LEVELS of emissions on Bridgend’s most polluted street are still over limits set by air quality objectives according to an annual report given to the council.
The update, which was given to members at a cabinet meeting held on October 22, revealed that the concentration of nitrogen dioxide at an air quality management Area, or AQMA, on Park Street Bridgend, was still above average levels.
It showed that three monitoring stations along Park Street had exceeded the national target of 40 μg/m3 of nitrogen dioxide in 2023, with average annual figures of 43.3 µg/m3.
However, the report given to council bosses also added that while the level of emissions had been above target, these numbers had been gradually falling since 2019 with reductions of as much as 22% highlighted, and all other areas in Bridgend in line with objectives.
The report read: “The 2024 Annual Progress Report confirms that in 2023, three sites located on Park Street exceed the air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide as prescribed in the Air Quality (Wales) Regulations 2000 and the Air Quality (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2002. All other locations within Bridgend County Borough continue to meet the relevant air quality objectives.”
It went on to say that “positive” work had also been carried out in the area in recent years, such as upgrading traffic lights at the junction of Park Street and Angel Street, as well as adding a right turn holding lane at the Junction of Park Street with Heol y Nant.
Officers added that without further measures being put in place, the annual mean nitrogen dioxide concentrations should fall below the 40 µg/m3 threshold in 2026, when the local authority could start to make a case for revoking the AQMA.”
However, it was highlighted in the report that if the air quality did not continue to improve an additional measure to deny all access onto St Leonards Road from Park Street could still be brought forward for consideration by the authority.
Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Hywel Williams said that monitoring air quality was an important role for the coucil, adding that he was pleased to see the levels trending downward. The annual progress report was later noted by cabinet members ready for submission as a final version to the Welsh Government.
