Air in Truro can be as bad as Central London

This week a public consultation has started about making Truro an Air Quality Management Area.

Basically, the Council are consulting on what precise area should be covered and what measures should be taken to improve air quality.

Levels of Nitrogen Dioxide, which should not be more than 40 micrograms per cubic metre can be as high as 96 in Highertown.

Poor air quality can aggravate lung and heart disease and asthma.

The recent dramatic rises are attributed largely to increased use of diesel cars.

I have asked the Council for electric buses for the Park and Ride but so far I have had no response.

Highertown, particularly the narrow canyon part of the road rising to Penn An Dre (the development on the Old Richard Lander School site) is worst affected.

But there is also a problem in Kenwyn Rd where it narrows near the City Inn.

At the moment the A390 accommodates  27,100 vehicle movements per day.

With 2,200 new houses proposed for this area, this could increase, the Council estimate, by 6500 per day. I would guess that it could be more but even an increase of 6,500 would have a very adverse effect.

The Council think the Eastern Park and Ride may help but admit that the Western Park and Ride has not reduced traffic. Mostly, it is just a massive cheap car park for RCHT,  Truro College and Threemilestone Industrial Estate.

Comments please by 13th April to: Truro Air Quality email or by phone 0300 1234 213. 

There will also be a drop in session at Truro Leisure Centre on 18th March 5 - 8pm.

 More information and links at Air Quality , Truro