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Comment from Rimrose Valley
Friends in response to our Department of Transport, Roads Minister's visits
Liverpool report
LAST week we ran a
report about UK's Transport Minister visiting
Liverpool to view plans to boost Port Of Liverpool. Part of these plans includes
an option that has upset many local residents. The local campaign group:-
'The Friends of Rimrose Valley Country Park.' have since replied to the
report we ran. They said:- "It's clear that the Roads Minister, Andrew
Jones and the Government are determined to push ahead with their A5036 road
building plans. We look forward to seeing how they are going to reduce the
already intolerable levels of air and noise pollution suffered by the
surrounding communities. In February 2016, The Royal College of Physicians and
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health stated that air pollution will
kill 40,000 people prematurely each year and the health costs add up to more
than £20 billion every year. (ref)."
They then added a question:- "What is the estimated increase in
the local premature deaths from both road options?"
RimroseValleyFriends.Org then went on to say:- "That same
report "Every Breath We Take: The Lifelong Impact of Air Pollution" states as a
recommendation 'Act to protect the public health when air pollution levels are
high. When these limits are exceeded, local authorities must have the power to
close or divert roads to reduce the volume of traffic, especially near schools.'
There are numerous schools in close proximity to the A5036. To stop these roads
tragically damaging the health of vulnerable children the authorities should be
acting on the advice of the country's best scientific experts and closing the
road to all freight traffic. Numerous reports stress the importance of open
green space for mental and physical well being. Either option would inevitably
destroy the green lungs of the area and increase, not only air pollution, but
noise pollution, light pollution and traffic congestion. The nitrogen dioxide
level this morning at the Princess Way Air Quality Monitoring Station was
105μg/m³ at 7.30am. The European Union legally binding mean level is 40μg/m³."
We would love to hear your views on this.
Please email us to:-
News24@SouthportReporter.com and let us know
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