Vauxhall's factory at Ellesmere Port is to be one of four plants in Europe that will build the new Astra.
DID you know that pollution levels in Ellesmere Port and Neston are lower at night than during the day?
This is just one of the facts that will be displayed on the first of two computerised Public Display Units (PDU's) that show information about air quality in Ellesmere Port.
The first sign has been installed on Rivington Road this month, as part of the borough council's Airwatch campaign, and a second sign will also be erected in the town centre.
The signs are linked to the council's air monitoring equipment and will give up-to-date air quality news and statistics. Mike Whittaker, Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council's Head of Environmental Health Services, said:
"Our aim is to provide information that already exists on our website to everyone - pedestrians, motorists, shoppers and residents.
"The messages that are displayed on the signs will highlight issues relating to air quality as well as providing general health information."
As the highest polluter in the region is traffic, and not the industrial element as may people believe, another of the messages being displayed is "Traffic is a major cause of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere - do you really need to use your car?".
Improving the quality of air in Ellesmere Port and Neston is one of the council's main priorities, and the installation of the signs also coincides with the development of an air quality strategy, helping to make sure the air around us is of the highest possible standard.
Mike Whittaker added: "The strategy is a starting point to make sure that air quality continues to improve in the future and the Local Air Quality Forum has looked at all the air quality pollutants to assess what pollution threats exist in this area.
"The Forum has considered all the monitoring data and has accepted that air quality in the borough has been improving every year since 1965 and pollution levels in Ellesmere Port and Neston are generally low.
"The local strategy is an important milestone in seeking to address local concerns about air quality. Some of its objectives are to continue meeting the National Air Quality Objectives, make sure air quality here does not deteriorate and continue the comprehensive monitoring of air quality in the area."
For more information, or to obtain your copy of the strategy, contact the Airwatch helpline on 0151 356 6633 or visit the Air Quality Strategy (final)
