Figures show a rise in air pollution near St Dunstan's Church

by Alex Claridge

Air quality at the top of St Dunstan’s Street in Canterbury has worsened since the Westgate Towers traffic trial began a year ago.

Data collected from a monitoring station outside St Dunstan’s Church shows that last week there were 40 parts of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide per billion parts of air - when the trial began there were less than 38.

Steve Coombs, of the campaign group Get Canterbury Moving, has been collating the figures and says the situation has reached “crisis point”.

He said: “The data shows that there has been a steady overall increase over the duration of the trial.

“The result now breaches a threshold set by Europe and by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and means that the situation requires attention.

“This is something which almost certainly will continue until the scheme concludes and traffic patterns return to that previous to it, with the figures then gradually dropping back down.”

Last March the city and county councils controversially changed the traffic system around the Westgate Towers.

It meant all traffic going into Canterbury would be barred from driving through the towers and only buses and taxis could go around them into St Peter’s Place. The aim was to protect the 14th century towers and reduce traffic movements.

The Westgate Towers traffic trial has proved controversial

Because of the changes, the monitoring station at the end of St Peter’s Place next to the roundabout has recorded lower pollution levels.

But Mr Coombs added: “This is an example of how this trial has resulted in simply shifting a problem rather than tackling it.”

The trial has led to fewer vehicles using St Peter’s Place, but they have been pushed onto other roads, especially London Road and Station Road West.

Last month, highways chiefs at county hall announced that in the face of massive opposition to the Westgate Towers scheme, they would restore the original system when the one-year trial finishes at the end of March.

"this is an example of how this trial has resulted in simply shifting a problem rather than tackling it." – campaigner steve coombs

This brought them into conflict with Conservatives on the city council, who devised the scheme and insist it is a success.

Last week, at the meeting of the Joint Tranpsortation Board – which comprises city and county councillors for Canterbury – Cllr Peter Vickery-Jones forced through a motion calling on the KCC highways department to delay the termination of the scheme until September.

Cllr Vickery-Jones, the executive member for transport on the city council, believes the later date will provide fuller statistics for analysis of the scheme.

“I don’t doubt that pollution has gone up at the top of St Dunstan’s, but that is because there is more traffic there and less in St Peter’s Place,” Cllr Vickery-Jones said.

“It’s not a case of looking at the odd spike in the data, it’s about getting the full information and so far this is not an air quality issue.”

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