Bishopbriggs named as air pollution hotspot
February 1, 2010 11:10 AM
Jo has called on the Council and Muse Developments to consider the impact on air quality of the town centre redevelopment.
Part of Kirkintilloch Road in Bishopbriggs has been highlighted in a report by Audit Scotland as one of 21 "hotspots" of poor air quality in Scotland.
The report blames poor air quality in the area on traffic pollution. It warns that air pollution reduces life expectancy and damages health, linking pollutants to respiratory problems, cardiovascular illness and cancer.
Jo has warned that there is a danger that the redevelopment of Bishopbriggs town centre could increase the problem.
Commenting, Jo said:
"Clean air is vital to the health and wellbeing of our community, and it is shocking to find that Kirkintilloch Road has been named as having one of the worst levels of air pollution in Scotland.
"The upcoming redevelopment of Bishopbriggs town centre is likely to increase the amount of traffic coming to the area, which could make the problem worse.
"East Dunbartonshire Council and Muse Developments must put environmental concerns at the heart of their plans for the town centre and do everything within their power to reduce its impact on the air we breathe."
The Auditor General for Scotland, Robert Black, said:
"Air quality action plans can improve traffic management and emissions from buses, and taxis, but the Scottish Government, councils and their partners should work together to ensure that the public health risks of traffic pollution are minimised. They need to consider all possible means of improving air quality, particularly in the worst affected areas. I acknowledge that some mechanisms such as road charging may not be acceptable to the public, and others are matters of EU or UK policy, but this should not prevent progress."
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