Two areas in Derbyshire has air quality zone removed
The areas have been heavily polluted for 20 years
Two areas in Derbyshire - which used to be heavily polluted - have had their air quality zones removed.
The areas are around Derby Road’s crossing of the M1 through Long Eaton and Sandiacre.
For two decades, these areas were subject to air quality improvement action.
This was due to dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide identified in each area suspected to have been caused by heavy traffic and congestion on the M1 motorway.
There are around 135 houses that fall within the air quality action zones, most of which lie in Long Eaton, north and south of Derby Road, backing on to the M1.
The zone in Derby Road, Sandiacre, includes around five homes and sits to the north of Junction 25 of the M1, while the zone in Derby Road, Long Eaton, includes around 130 homes to the south of Junction 25.
However, a report to Erewash Borough Council now details that nitrogen dioxide levels in both areas are now “consistently and significantly below the air quality objective”.
The report says:
“Since designation, measured concentrations of nitrogen dioxide within the air quality management areas have fallen progressively over successive years following completion of carriageway widening between Junctions 25 and 28 of the M1 motorway in 2010 and the introduction of variable speed limits in 2011.
It went on to say:
“More recently, the completion of carriageway improvements in February 2019 and the introduction of ‘smart’ motorway technologies to the north and south of Junction 25 are also expected to improve traffic flows further, reduce congestion and improve air quality in and around the two air quality management areas.”