Warnings earlier this year by East Lothian Greens that people in the county’s biggest town were being exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution have been proved right.
In a report going before the East Lothian Council cabinet next Tuesday (12 Nov) – a report that had been expected seven months ago – environmental protection officers recommend a legal order to declare Musselburgh High Street the county’s first Air Quality Management Area.
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In July a Freedom of Information investigation by East Lothian Greens revealed that a report for the council by consultants last year suggested that levels of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant from vehicle exhausts known to increase the chance of respiratory problems, were breaching World Health Organisation guidelines on the High Street and on Bridge Street.
The report going before councillors next week confirms the results of monitoring showing parts of the High Street are exceeding the guidelines.
Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, said:
“Musselburgh has so much potential and the fact that the High Street is set to be declared an Air Quality Management zone was entirely avoidable. The Council has had its head in the sand and put the health and wellbeing of local people at risk. It’s appalling that the authorities are only now facing up to the reality of the situation.
“Air pollution is hard to see but its impacts are real, especially for children and the elderly. I want to see this issue move right up the agenda and I will be writing to East Lothian Council asking for clear timescales for action.”
East Lothian Greens campaigner Jason Rose said:
“This is a massive embarrassment for the town of Musselburgh, the gateway to East Lothian. If East Lothian Greens hadn’t asked for the earlier reports using Freedom of Information local people would have been in the dark until now.
“I remain concerned that despite knowing of this problem for some time East Lothian Council has done nothing when it could have been doing traffic surveys and working with bus operators to make Musselburgh the priority for low emissions vehicles. And even if the council does declare an air quality management area it could be years before we actually see any action.
“In the meantime people who live, shop and work in and around Musselburgh town centre will have to put up with exposure to poor quality air. Local people must be fully involved in what happens next and must be kept better informed.”
Report to East Lothian Cabinet
East Lothian Greens petition for low emissions buses in Musselburgh
East Lothian Greens Freedom of Information results from July
