Vauxhall's factory at Ellesmere Port is to be one of four plants in Europe that will build the new Astra.
Air campaign explodes myths
INDUSTRIAL and residential areas have for many decades existed side-by-side in the borough, but the union has sometimes been an uneasy one.
As a result the issue of air quality frequently finds itself at the top of people's lists of priorities and concerns, so to fill in the information gap and provide a regular platform for news and views, The Messenger is launching a new feature called Air Aware.
Air Aware will provide regular, up-to-date information about the quality of the air in the borough and compare the level of pollution in Ellesmere Port and Neston with other areas. The Air Quality Forum, which is made up of residents, environmentalists, health experts, industry representatives and the regulatory agencies, will provide features giving different views on air quality.
To set the ball rolling we have examined some of the assumptions made about local air pollution, to find out whether they are fact or fiction.
Myth 1: 'Air quality in the borough is the same or worse than it was five years ago'
State-of-the art equipment in the borough monitors a range of air pollutants. Results have revealed that sulphur dioxide (the main industrial pollutant) and nitrogen dioxide (from cars industry) have reduced substantially. Air quality, in terms of pollution, has improved.
Myth 2: 'Air quality is worse in Ellesmere Port and Neston compared to the rest of the country'
Comparing the data collected by monitoring equipment shows that lead levels in the borough are half those measured in Leeds and less than a third of those measured in Manchester, while Windermere levels are a third below those of Ellesmere Port.
Maximum sulphur dioxide levels in the borough are similar to those recorded at Crewe and Nantwich, Macclesfield, Chorley and Bolton, and were less than half of those measured at Oldham, Stockport and Wallasey. Levels of sulphur dioxide are below the national average. The vast majority of the air pollution levels measured in the borough are comparable to other areas of the country.
Myth 3: 'Only the borough council has powers to restrict local air pollution'
The local authority and the Environment Agency jointly has responsibility for regulating emissions from industry. The Environment Agency deals with large industrial processes and the local authority deals with smaller industrial processes and odour problems.
Both the local authority and the Environment Agency are working to provide a consistent approach to these issues.
Myth 4: 'Air pollution is worse at night'
Many industrial processes are now strictly regulated unlike in years gone by. 24-hour air quality monitors indicate that pollution levels are highest during the day and fall between 8pm and 5am. Many of the plumes that can be seen at dusk and night- time in industrial areas are water vapour emissions which condense at ground level during colder nights. Pollution does not increase at night.
Myth 5: 'Bad smells affect health'
A group of community representatives, local authorities, the Environment Agency, and industry representatives recently got together to review whether or not there was a link between odour and health. It concluded that, although 'bad smells' are a nuisance and affect quality of life, they do not in the main cause ill health.
Currently an action plan is being devised on how to reduce odour complaints.
If you've got any questions about air quality, please write to Air Aware, Environmental Protection Unit, Council Offices, 4 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 OBE, and we'll do our best to find the answer to your query.
