Pollution blackspot - what happens next?, Council runs out of puff Options

[Bofem]

As it's now THREE years since the pollution levels at burger king roundabout reached unsafe levels, and you'll be pleased to know that WBC has just started preparing an action plan

Prolonged exposure to nitrogen oxide can cause breathing difficulties, especially for children. In short spells it irritates the lungs.

I was wondering if this problem should be taken more seriously. I know WBC want to divert the lorries from A339 north down the Newtown Straight then up A34, but Hampshire county council is having none of it.

My solution:
1. Reopen Crookham Hill to HGVs to reduce bottleneck in Newbury
2. Turn off traffic lights on Sainsburys roundabout to speed up flow
3. WBC to issue smog-masks.

[Biker1]

As it's now THREE years since the pollution levels at burger king roundabout reached unsafe levels, and you'll be pleased to know that WBC has just started preparing an action plan

Prolonged exposure to nitrogen oxide can cause breathing difficulties, especially for children. In short spells it irritates the lungs.

I was wondering if this problem should be taken more seriously. I know WBC want to divert the lorries from A339 north down the Newtown Straight then up A34, but Hampshire county council is having none of it.

My solution:
1. Reopen Crookham Hill to HGVs to reduce bottleneck in Newbury
2. Turn off traffic lights on Sainsburys roundabout to speed up flow
3. WBC to issue smog-masks.

I thought the by-pass was going to solve all the pollution problems from road traffic in the ring road area?

[Cognosco]

I thought the by-pass was going to solve all the pollution problems from road traffic in the ring road area?

You believed that?

[user23]

I thought the by-pass was going to solve all the pollution problems from road traffic in the ring road area?

The best solution is not more roads, but less cars.

[Andy Capp]

The best solution is not more roads, but less cars.

More roads means less cars (use the roundabout in question).

[user23]

More roads means less cars (use the roundabout in question).

Do less cars use the roundabout now, compared to 15 years ago?

[Andy Capp]

Do less cars use the roundabout now, compared to 15 years ago?

I don't know, do you? It seems by judging the frequency of jams, we have fewer cars use it now than 20 years ago. I suspect at peak times, fewer cars use Newtown Road and the Wantage Road (the old North/South route) than they did in the 60s. Meanwhile; there are more people getting about Newbury these days.

[dannyboy]

My guess is that the acceptable pollution levels change in accordance with the status of the road. When the Burger King roundabout no longer became part of the A34 & was de trunked - the acceptable levels will have fallen.

[Andy Capp]

My guess is that the acceptable pollution levels change in accordance with the status of the road. When the Burger King roundabout no longer became part of the A34 & was de trunked - the acceptable levels will have fallen.

That might be the case, but the levels are still 'unacceptable'.

[dannyboy]

That might be the case, but the levels are still 'unacceptable'.

It must be so all along the A339 through town. Sounds to me like the levels need upping. Problem solved.

[JeffG]

It seems by judging the frequency of jams, we have fewer cars use it now than 20 years ago.

That was yesterday. Today, southbound traffic is backed up to the Robin Hood because they are working on the Burger King roundabout and have closed one lane.

In any other country, work like that would be done at night. I wonder how much this is costing the economy with lost man (and woman) hours.

[dannyboy]

In any other country, work like that would be done at night. I wonder how much this is costing the economy with lost man (and woman) hours.

You jest.

[JeffG]

Not sure what I am jesting about. Is it the suggestion that this country might consider doing the work at night and save a great deal of money?

[dannyboy]

Not sure what I am jesting about. Is it the suggestion that this country might consider doing the work at night and save a great deal of money?

That you think in 'other countries' work on & near residential streets is done at night. I doubt 20mins delay in Newbury is costing the economy much.

[Andy Capp]

It must be so all along the A339 through town. Sounds to me like the levels need upping. Problem solved.

You don't live near a busy roundabout I presume.

[dannyboy]

You don't live near a busy roundabout I presume.

No.

[Biker1]

You believed that?

Of course not - anyone who did was living in cloud cuckoo land!

[Bofem]

I'm still not clear why it took WBC 3 years just to write an action plan.

Why has nothing been done to tackle this risk to our health?

[Andy Capp]

I'm still not clear why it took WBC 3 years just to write an action plan.

Why has nothing been done to tackle this risk to our health?

Because it is going to be really hard, unpopular, or both; to do?

[Biker1]

Why has nothing been done to tackle this risk to our health?

You could help by not driving down there.