Pollution Continues Despite Air Quality Concerns

2.50.36pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 11th Feb 2005

Pollution from Stewartby Brickworks must be tackled once and for all claim local lib Dems

Lib Dems on Bedford Borough council fear local people's health is still threatened by sulphur dioxide emissions from the Stewartby brickworks, despite the proposed establishment of an air quality management area across parts of the borough and neighbouring mid beds.

High Levels of Sulphur Dioxide Have Been Reported

Overall enforcement responsibility lies with the Environment Agency but the borough council is establishing the AQMA across an area where it is thought levels of sulphur dioxide will exceed EU standards

Following a meeting of the borough council's General Purposes committee, which has overall responsibility for air quality on the council, Wootton and Stewartby councilor Judith Cunningham expressed her concern that levels of sulphur dioxide continued to exceed EU standards.

Cllr Cunnigham said:

"For years now we have been complaining about the stench from the brickworks and demanding that action be taken. The establishment of an Air Quality Management Area is a positive step but we need levels of sulphur dioxide reduced now. Having an Air Quality Management Area will mean increased monitoring of the levels of emissions but we already know that European standards have been exceeded. The area that will be covered includes the proposed developments at Wootton, the Wixams and along the A421 corridor. Thousands of new homes are planned for these sites, many of which will also fall within the flood plain.

We've received a huge amount of anecdotal evidence from local residents about the detrimental effect of the emissions. Complaints from as far afield as Putnoe, Silsoe and Bromham. Imagine what it will be like for the thousands of new home owners who will have to put up with these emissions as the residents of Stewartby and the surrounding villages currently do.

Other brickworks have taken measures to improve the level of emissions and continue to operate successfully. Hanson should stop their delaying and introduce measures to reduce emissions now."

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