Pollution concerns on county's congested roads

The latest to be identified is the area around Grove Lodge on the A27 around Worthing, which has been permanently monitored now for two years, since it was first identified by the borough bouncil as a potential 'hot-spot'. It has now been found that the air quality there is well below acceptable standards.

The borough council says it has to make an air quality management order for the area in the vicinity of the Grove Lodge roundabout, and views are now being sought during a period of public consultation of measures that can be taken to reduce pollution - such as easing traffing congestion and reducing the number of vehicles using the A27.

A spokeswoman said: "We will work with the highway authorities, planning authorities and others to devise an action plan. The aim of this is to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide, reducing long term exposure and the risk of health impacts on residents living in the area."

This process may take up to year to complete, but the council is keen to pursue any interim measures that can be agreed with the highway authorities and to implement these as soon as practicable. A newsletter will be sent to all affected residents giving them information on the proposed order and advising them how to make comments.

Clive Roberts, Worthing council cabinet member said: "The declaration of an Air Quality Management Area in the vicinity of the Grove Lodge roundabout will focus minds at the Highways Agency and the county council on congestion issues along this very busy stretch of the A27.

Nitrogen dioxide levels are starting to reduce nationally, mainly as a result of introduction of more efficient engines but a plan will identify measures that can be implemented to further reduce levels, to the benefit of health and wellbeing of local residents."

A county council spokeswoman said that other declared air quality management areas were at the A27 Chichester bypass (Stockbridge roundabout), Orchard Street and St Pancras, also in Chichester.

In addition two others - the first to be declared in West Sussex in December 2005, were at High Street in Shoreham and the A270/Upper Kingston Lane junction.

"The Highways Agency is working with WSCC and Chichester District Council to find ways to reduce traffic related NO2 pollution as the A27 Chichster Bypass area but Orchard Street and St Pancras are on the A286 Ring Road where the county council is the highway authority. The problem and solution is one for the whole wider city area and Stockbridge itself too. The county and district council have a joint air quality action plan to deal with the whole area, and the Highways Agency is helping with that wider plan."

She added: "In Adur district, the district council and county council have an action plan for both areas. As a result of three years work, traffic flows and emissions are reducing. Measures that have helped are school travel plans and computerising traffic signals on the A270 enabling reduction of queues by automatically adjusting their own timings."