Houses could be demolished to clear air in polluted Welsh village

Caerphilly consults on draft Air Quality Action Plan

A number of homes in a South Wales village could be demolished under plans to improve air quality in an area with one of the UK’s highest pollution levels. 

The houses are in Hafod-yr-ynys, which was declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in November 2013. The village lies on the route of the A472 between Pontypool and Crumlin in Caerphilly,

Over the last two years air quality monitoring showed that the levels of nitrogen dioxide in Hafod-yr-ynys were higher than anywhere in the UK, barring central London. An air pollution monitoring box on the A472 near Swffryd recorded levels higher than anywhere else but Marylebone Road in London. The levels recorded far exceed World Health Organisation guidelines on acceptable levels.

The A472 is a heavily trafficked main route, which carries 21,400 vehicles per day, dominated by cars (81.3% of vehicles) and HGVs (14.3%). At Hafod-yr-ynys the road becomes a semi-canyonised environment with two-storey residential cottages bordering the road to its southern boundary, while there is an upward sloping valley to the northern boundary of the road.

Caerphilly County Borough Council is now consulting on its draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) outline proposals aimed at reducing nitrogen dioxide pollution in the area.

The proposals in the draft AQAP include:

• Compulsory purchasing homes on Woodside Terrace to demolish them to prevent pollution getting boxed in by allowing greater air dispersion
• Building a one-way bypass to re-route southbound A467 vehicles travelling towards the A467 to reduce traffic flow by 12.5%
• Building a two-way bypass re-routing southbound and eastbound A467 motorists to cut 25% of traffic
• Reducing the speed limit and/or introducing a speed camera to encourage the smooth flow of traffic
• Encouraging more efficient travel within the area, working with businesses, schools and the council
• Carrying out air quality impact assessments for any future developments likely to increase traffic
• Re-routing HGV traffic away from the area
• Encouraging bus firms to use low-emission vehicles.

Cllr Eluned Stenner, cabinet member for the environment and public protection, said the consultation was a chance for people to have their say. Stenner said: “With the support of the local community and our partners, we remain fully committed to doing all we can to help improve the air quality situation, and I’d encourage our residents to contribute their views on the contents of this draft action plan by taking part in this consultation.”