Thatcham Town Council calls West Berkshire Council’s proposed revocation of air quality management areas ‘premature’

West Berkshire Council (WBC) is proposing to revoke its Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA).

It has two in the district – one in Thatcham and one in Newbury.

At these two sites, it monitors the nitrogen dioxide levels using diffusion tubes.

It has had these tubes at five locations in Thatcham since 2001: 40 Chapel Street, 31 Chapel Street, 17 Chapel Street, 75 Chapel Street and 130 Park Avenue.

Over the past five years, it has found the concentration results have reduced.

But it has risen slightly – between 2020 and 2021 – at 40 Chapel Street and 17 Chapel Street.

WBC said several factors may have attributed to these reduced levels.

These are an increased use of electric vehicles, more people working from home, increase in public transport use and reduction in vehicle idling.

But the removal of the AQMA in Thatcham has raised concerns.

Thatcham Town Council (TTC) has called the proposal “premature”.

It has produced a written response which states there are shortcomings in evidence for the need of a revocation.

TTC raised worry with future developments in the area and the impact they may have on air quality.

An application for further warehousing to the east of Colthrop Industrial Estate has been granted.

And the town council is worried that it will significantly increase the number of lorry movements on the A4 in Thatcham.

It said this section of the A4 is the most congested in the town.

It also said West Berkshire Council has commissioned a detailed air quality assessment as a part of its regulation 19 evidence base for its draft local plan.

The town council said this should also form a part of the evidence base for the AQMA revocation.

TTC commented on the reduction in air pollution in 2020 which it said may not be representative of long-term trends.

It said this result could be due to the change in activity from coronavirus lockdown measures.

TTC also said there is also a need for a West Berkshire Air Quality Strategy which, if put in place, would ensure that air quality remains a high profile issue.

The revocation is subject to consultation.