Brickworks Slammed Over Dangerous Gas Emissions

Borough Liberal Democrats are demanding urgent action to put an end to the release of dangerously high levels of sulphur dioxide which have been identified in the Stewartby Brickworks area.

The findings form part of an assessment carried out by King's College, London, which was commissioned by the Borough Council. The assessment found that areas near to Stewartby Brickworks exceeded both UK and EU standards in sulphur dioxide. Now Liberal Democrat councillors in the area are demanding that action is taken to tackle the high emissions. They want the area declared an Air Quality Management Area. Once the Area is declared the Council must work with others such as the Environment to draw up an action plan to tackle the problem and improve the air quality.

Speaking on the issue, Wootton and Stewartby Lib Dem Councillor, Judith Cunningham, said:

"These figures are very worrying. It is shocking that sulphur dioxide levels exceed both UK and EU standards. Only 3 out of the 124 Areas which have been declared across the country are due to sulphur dioxide problems. Both the Borough Council and the Environment Agency need to take action now, not wait any longer. This problem was identified when the Council last reviewed air quality some years ago but the Council was persuaded then by Hanson Brick that there would be no problem by 2004 [1]. The fact there is still a problem is very disappointing. It's time to get tough.

High levels of sulphur dioxide have health implications for people living in the area. We have been monitoring by nose when the situation seems to be particularly bad and passing it onto the Environment Agency. Now we have proof that the levels we feared had been exceeded. The Borough must declare an Air Quality Management Area to show it is serious about tackling this problem. This situation cannot be allowed to continue any longer. These standards were introduced as guidance for the maximum level that can be reached yet at Stewartby they are exceeded. "

ENDS

[1] Para 10.8.3.2 - 10.8.3.5 of previous review & assessment