New FAQs about Park Street Air Quality Management Area
Poster information
Posted on: Thursday 01 April 2021
A new set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in Park Street, Bridgend, has been put together for residents.
In January 2019, the council officially implemented the county borough’s first AQMA Order in Park Street after data showed nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels were above national air quality limit values. The levels are attributed to inconsistent traffic flows and vehicles queuing on the road.
An automated air quality monitoring station was installed in the grounds of the Quaker Meeting House in Park Street earlier this year, providing real-time data for NO2 and particulate matter.
The Quaker Meeting House site was chosen due to its accessibility and safe working environment, as well as the availability of a power supply to operate the station.
The site is towards the northern boundary of the Park Street AQMA, where the highest levels of NO2 have been recorded at nearby residential properties.
The data collected will be used to improve understanding of air quality levels on Park Street and identify any impact made by improvement measures.
Shared Regulatory Services (SRS), which provides air quality services for Bridgend County Borough Council, administered and financed the site’s placement, and now operates and maintains the site.
SRS is currently producing an action plan to address concerns for the Park Street AQMA. The plan contains a number of proposed measures that have been developed by the council’s air quality working group, including input from public drop-in sessions.
To ensure the correct measures are put in place that target inconsistent traffic flow and queuing concerns, detailed assessments are being undertaken to illustrate any benefits for air quality levels. These will take expected traffic growth as a result of local nearby development into account.
The assessments are considering a package of measures which includes stopping access onto St Leonard’s Road, introducing a junction at the Heol-y-Nant turning, and improving the junction between Park Street, Angel Street and Tondu Road.
SRS will input the findings into a final action plan, which is due to be completed in summer 2021 and will be released for public consultation.
The new FAQs document has been published to address any queries or concerns residents may have about the AQMA.
Visit the council’s AQMA webpage to read the full FAQs or to see the monitoring data for Park Street, visit the Air Quality in Wales website.