Re-open A3 Air Quality Site
11th August 2008
New campaign seen as vital in fight to stop Tescos at Tolworth
Edward Davey with Cllr Rolson Davies and Cllr Vicki Harris in Tolworth
Parliamentary questions tabled by Kingston and Surbiton's Liberal Democrat MP, Edward Davey, have uncovered worrying news that the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recently closed its air quality monitoring site in Tolworth by the A3.
Edward Davey MP has teamed up with Tolworth's Lib Dem councillors to campaign to re-open an air quality monitoring facility near the Tolworth roundabout, and Edward has this week written to the Secretary of State for DEFRA, Hilary Benn MP, to ask him to re-open the site. (See below) Tolworth's local Liberal Democrat FOCUS team believe this new campaign could be important in the fight to stop Tescos coming to Tolworth. Commenting, Edward said:
"Labour is letting local people down badly. Air quality by the A3 has been poor for some time, so it is a nonsense for the Government to shut this monitoring site down. Poor air quality hits people's health, especially young children and the elderly, and diseases like asthma cost the NHS billions.
"With new stricter legal limits on air pollution in force from this June, we need to make sure they are enforced, and that means we need these measurements to check.
"One of the main reasons I'm opposed to the proposed Tesco site at Tolworth is that it will add massively to local traffic congestion and related air pollution. Without this monitoring site, we won't have up-to-date statistics to prove that extra traffic from Tescos will mean the EU's new air quality laws will be breached.
"I'm pleased my Parliamentary Questions uncovered this, but now we need everyone's help to get this air quality site re-opened."
Speaking on behalf of Tolworth and Hook Rise ward councillors, Cllr Vicki Harris said:
"We expect Tescos to put in a new planning application later this year. We believe any proposed supermarket on that site will be in breach of local planning law, but we've also believed it would be in breach of the EU's laws on air quality too, so we need this air quality monitoring site back.
"Tolworth needs cleaner air quality anyway, to prevent illness, especially breathing problems. We will be pushing Kingston Council to do what they can to help too."
Letters to Secretary of State for DEFRA and Mayor for London
Letters below to:
Secretary of State for DEFRA, Hilary Benn MP: 8th August 2008
Secretary of State for DEFRA, Hilary Benn MP: 9th August 2008
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson: 11th August 2008
The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP
Secretary of State
DEFRA
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
8th August 2008
Air quality and the closure of the A3 monitoring site
[previously within the Automatic Urban and Rural Network]
Up until quite recently, DEFRA funded and owned an air quality monitoring site by the A3 Kingston by-pass in my constituency, as part of its Automatic Urban and Rural Network.
I have just discovered that this site was recently closed, as part of DEFRA's re-orientation of its monitoring programme, away from C0 and SO2 towards other pollutants, and away from large urban areas (like London) to large towns.
I am extremely alarmed to discover this closure, not least because I have had constituents express concerns to me over the years about air quality problems arising from the extremely busy A3 trunk road which bifurcates Kingston and Surbiton. Indeed, there has been past evidence from this site, that existing air quality standards have been breached. For example, your Department's "Air Quality Expert Group" published a report in 2007 ("Trends in Primary Nitrogen Dioxide in the UK") which noted that there had been a dramatic increase in "98-percentile concentrations and 200 µg m-3 (105ppb) exceedences of peak hourly mean NO2 concentrations, as well as increases in the annual mean NO2/NOx ratios. While there may be explanations for this unrelated to increases in pollution (e.g., measurement issues), it does suggest the need to keep monitoring, and not close this site.
Such a case is made stronger by the new EU Air Quality Directive which came into force this June. As you know, this directive continues to set limits on oxides of nitrogen, toughens the rules and limits around PM10 (fine particulate matter) and introduces a completely new limit for PM2.5. In the past, concern has been expressed about the levels of PM10 at the site, once again suggesting a strong case for continued monitoring of the air quality here.
Furthermore, there is an urgent need for up-to-date data at this site. There is the possibility of major new development in this area, which may add to the local congestion, and worsen the existing poor air quality still more.
Therefore, I have one main request, and a series of linked questions.
My request is that you reconsider your decision and re-open the A3 AURN air quality monitoring site as soon as possible.
My questions are:
- When exactly was the decision to close this site taken?
- What analysis and statistics were used in making the decision to close this site?
- What were the results of the air quality monitoring at this site, for each year since it was opened in March 1997, for the main pollutants it measured, namely CO, NO2 and PM10 , and how does that data compare with the other sites closed elsewhere in London and the remaining sites in London, at least over the last 5 years?
- What other relevant data was collected at this site, if any?
- What was the cost of operating this site, and how does that compare with other similar sites?
- What is the procedure for reviewing this decision?
- If a decision was taken to re-open the site, how long would that take?
- If a decision was taken for a new air quality monitoring site in this area, though not necessarily at the identical site, how long would it take to install a new unit?
- If another body was prepared to co-finance the site - such as the the Greater London Authority or the Royal Borough of Kingston - would DEFRA consider a partnership arrangement?
I would be extremely grateful for a detailed reply on this and would of course be happy to meet you or one of your ministerial colleagues to discuss this.
I am copying this to the local ward councillors in Tolworth and Hook Rise, with whom I am working on this, and will also bring it to the attention of the Mayor of London and Kingston Council more generally.
Yours sincerely,
Edward Davey MP
The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP
Secretary of State
DEFRA
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
9th August 2008
Air quality, London and measurements - follow up letter
Further to my letter of 8th August (copy enclosed), I have several follow up and related questions, and I'd be grateful if your answers could be included in the reply.
Could you supply DEFRA latest computer modelling results for current and forecast air quality for the whole of my constituency, and especially along the A3 Kingston by-pass? Could this cover NO2, PM10, PM2.5 and O3? Could you explain the difference in accuracy between such modelling and having adequate air quality monitoring facilities at high risk locations?
Do you have a map of those London roads alongside which you would expect our new legal obligations under the EU Air Quality Directive to be breached, if no further action or measures were taken, especially in relation to PM10 and PM2.5 ?
Could you also tell me when DEFRA expects to meet its legal obligations under the EU Air Quality Directive for:
- Alongside the A3 Kingston by-pass
- The whole of the Kingston and Surbiton Constituency
- London
- The UK
Could you also set out what work DEFRA is doing itself to prevent any breach of our legal obligations, and could you set out what are the legal responsibilities of both the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority, as well as individual London Boroughs, in preventing such a breach?
Could you set out what work DEFRA has already been undertaken with the Mayor for London, and individual London Boroughs, and what work is planned, to produce a partnership to prevent a breach of EU air pollution limits?
Yours sincerely,
Edward Davey MP
Boris Johnson
Mayor of London
Greater London Authority, City Hall
The Queen's Walk, More London
London SE1 2AA 11th August 2008
Air quality across London and by the A3 Kingston by-pass
- action needed now to avoid legal breaches
With the air quality problems for the Beijing Olympics in the headlines, I am sure you will agree that tackling London's own air quality problems should be a priority for your mayoralty. It would be both ironic and disturbing if, in four years' time when London hosts the next Olympics, our city is in breach of air quality laws.
Moreover, as a London MP it is certainly a problem in my constituency, particularly along side the A3 Kingston by-pass, so I am writing to seek assurances about your efforts London-wide and how you can assist me in tackling our local issues.
London-wide issues
You will be aware that under the new EU Air Quality laws, which came into effect in June this year, London has to meet new stringent limits on various air pollutants, most notably NO2, PM10, PM2.5 and O3 .
You may be aware that DEFRA recently confirmed that at least 40 kilometres of arterial roads across London will remain in breach of these air quality laws in 2011, especially for the daily average of PM10 if no new policy measures are taken. Further, that some London roads are in danger of breaching limits by January 2010.
This could lead to infringement action against London and the UK by the EU and it is possible commitments given the International Olympics Committee in the Olympics Host City Contract could be breached too.
Given that the Greater London Authority Act 1999 puts specific legal obligations on the Mayor of London to prepare an Air Quality Strategy, I am keen to know your policy. What do you plan to do about this - and when - because there is no time to lose.
If you consider these legal deadlines and the timing of the 2012 Games, you surely need to be taking action now. For you will need to consult and give notice to residents and business, of any new policy measures you plan to take to avoid a legal breach - for, if any new policy measures are to work, they will have to be in place for sometime in 2009.
Could you therefore let me know, in detail, what work is underway, perhaps in partnership with DEFRA and/or London Boroughs on this, and set out your thinking for the future?
I hope you will also share my concern at a recent answer I received from a Parliamentary Question I asked DEFRA ministers in relation to air quality monitoring sites across the UK, including London. I have reproduced the answer in an appendix to this letter.
What the answer shows is that 11 air quality monitoring sites in the Greater London Urban Area closed in 2007, with only 2 replacement ones opening. The Government say this is due to the need to "re-orientate" resources to meet new aspects of air quality limits, brought in by the new EU Air Quality Directive. However, you will see from the table that London is disproportionately hit - at a time when London will be struggling the most to meet the new laws.
I believe the real explanation for these closures is a mixture of Government spending cut backs and potentially even a worrying desire to avoid having the necessary data to be able to see whether or not areas of London are in breach of air quality laws.
Therefore, I want to know what you are doing in response to DEFRA's actions? Are you willing to campaign with me to have these air quality monitoring sites restored? Are you willing to contribute GLA funds - perhaps in partnership with DEFRA - to have the necessary new air quality monitoring sites restored?
Kingston and Surbiton issues: the A3
My particular concerns about the A3 Kingston by-pass relate directly to these actions of DEFRA - in closing an air quality monitoring site near to the Tolworth roundabout.
This area has suffered badly from air pollution over the years due to high volumes of road traffic, and there is great local concern about this. The traffic congestion near and at the Tolworth roundabout remains a real problem, despite various works. Moreover, there is a threat that, were Tescos to get their way, and build a new superstore by the roundabout, that our local air pollution problems would get even worse.
I am of course taking this issue up directly with DEFRA, but I would also ask for your assistance.
First, what aspects of your Air Quality Strategy will address the air quality problems experienced alongside the A3 Kingston by-pass?
Second, are you prepared to find the necessary funding to help me get this air quality monitoring site re-opened - either acting as the GLA alone, or working in partnership with DEFRA?
I look forward to receiving your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Edward Davey MP
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