Detailed investigations into concentrations of nitrogen dioxide
arising from vehicle exhaust emissions at the junction of Lime Kiln
Quay Road, Thoroughfare and St. John’s Street in Woodbridge were
completed in September 2005. A
report detailing the findings (new window PDF
255KB) was taken to the Council’s Cabinet in October 2005
for approval.
The report concluded that the objective for nitrogen dioxide is
likely to be exceeded at properties on the western side of the
Thoroughfare/Melton Hill arm of the junction, and that we should
consider declaring an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) at the
junction to tackle these exceedances. The Cabinet approved the
findings of the report and it was then sent to Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), who also approved the
findings and confirmed that we were required to declare an AQMA for
the junction.
Woodbridge Junction AQMA
On 3 March 2006, the Council made an
Air Quality Management Order (new window PDF
267KB) for the junction, which came into effect on 3 April
2006. Once an order comes into operation, a Further
Assessment must be made of the air quality and reported back to
Defra within twelve months.
The Further Assessment (new window PDF 902KB)
was undertaken for the junction in October 2007, which confirmed
that the AQMA should be retained. This assessment concluded that
about 90 percent of the nitrogen dioxide emissions are as a
result of local traffic and more specifically that about two
thirds are because of queuing traffic.
Draft Air Quality Action Plan for Woodbridge Junction AQMA
Defra has approved the draft Air Quality Action Plan for the
junction, which details 79 potential measures to reduce emissions
from road traffic and improve air quality. Each of these was fully
investigated in relation to air quality impact, cost and
feasibility, which culminated in a list of 20 measures recommended
for implementation.
The Action Plan details the 20 measures, how they will be
monitored and an assessment of the benefits that should occur as a
result:
A public consultation on the draft Action Plan was completed on
18 June 2010. Numerous responses have been received which are being
collated for use in producing the final Action Plan for the
junction. This will be sent to Defra and publicised once
completed.
Inevitably, the draft Action Plan has taken time to develop but
we have continued to monitor air quality at the junction and worked
to introduce any measures available in the interim.
A new traffic signalling system (MOVA) was installed at the
junction to more effectively control queues. This went on-line in
Spring 2010 and can adapt to conditions on the ground at any time
and alter the light sequencing accordingly. We are hoping that this
should have a significant effect on queues and therefore air
quality levels.
Funding has also been secured from Suffolk County Council to
progress feasibility studies for a number of measures detailed in
the draft Action Plan.
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