Air monitoring stations have been erected around Newport to give residents a clear indication as to how clean their environment is. The eco post air sensors use a coloured light display similar to a traffic light which changes colour if the air quality state changes hourly during the day.
Green shows the cleanest air and purple shows the most polluted. The sensors, which are the first in the UK, have been installed in five areas in Newport so far. Three of the locations including Caerphilly Road, Malpas Road and High Cross are all within Newport’s clean air quality management area – areas of focus which have previously been deemed to be failing in air quality standards set out by the UK government.
The other sensors have been installed in the city centre near the Riverfront theatre and in Pillgwenlly. Another sensor is to be installed in Maindee soon.
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The sensors check the air for nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. Based on the UK government’s daily air quality index, if the sensor is displaying then green pollution levels are low, amber is moderate, red is high and purple is very high.
Each sensor has a QR code to download an app which shows the reading for that time and also allows people to look at the readings for the whole of the previous week. Councillor Yvonne Forsey, cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity, said it is hoped the sensors will help residents better understand the quality of their air.
“Part of our air quality work is about making sure residents know what the air quality in their area is like,” she said. “The sensors do this by providing an easily accessible indicator of how the air is around their location. We’re hopeful that the sensors will encourage people to think about the air quality in their area and how they can make choices that help keep pollution levels low.”
The main causes of poor air quality are industrial and road traffic emissions. Where air quality is found to exceed standards an air quality management area must be declared. There are 11 air quality management areas in Newport currently.
But last week it was reported five of the air quality management areas across the M4 network are likely to be revoked after recording sustained compliance with targets. The council said this had followed the introduction of a 50mph average speed limit on the motorway, and could also be linked to more people working from home since the pandemic, rather than commuting to work every day.
Part of its air quality action plan will instead focus on the city’s six other air quality management areas, located in Caerleon’s High Street, Caerphilly Road in Bassaleg, Cefn Road in Rogerstone, a stretch of Chepstow Road in Maindee, George Street west of the bridge, and Malpas Road south of the M4.
The action plan shows nitrogen dioxide levels had fallen below the council’s target from 2020 onwards, but figures for 2022 – the latest available – indicate levels have crept back up slightly in Cefn Road and George Street. In all six sites, council research found diesel cars were the biggest contributor to nitrogen dioxide emissions – accounting for roughly half of recorded levels – ahead of diesel LGVs (light goods vehicles).
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