Between October 2019 and January 2020, the Clean Air for Colchester Project Team met with residents and community groups to raise awareness of air pollution in Colchester. The team have developed a list of the most frequently asked questions and their answers.
Clean Air for Colchester is an exciting community led project which aims to cut pollution from cars, buses and vans throughout Colchester.
The project, which is funded by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, focuses on encouraging walking and cycling for short journeys and getting people to switch off their engines when they are not moving.
We know from research that small easy changes to driving habits, such as switching the engine off whilst stationary, can cut pollution by up to 20- 30% - think how much cleaner Colchester’s air will be with 30% less pollution!
There are parts of Colchester where pollution levels exceed EU guidelines. These include residential streets such as Brook Street, East Hill and parts of Mersea Road and Military Road. Pollution isn’t just a ‘big city’ problem it is a problem right here on our streets and outside our schools and unfortunately it affects us all.
The legal limit for the air pollutant Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), which comes from exhaust fumes, is 40µg/m3 (Micrograms Per Meter Cubed). Areas of Colchester that exceed EU guidelines have been declared Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). Colchester has three Air Quality Management Areas and each area has an action plan in place to help reduce pollution levels to below legal limits.
Exceedances of the Legal EU Limit vary throughout Colchester, with many measured sites not exceeding the limit. This means a definitive answer on how much Colchester exceeds the limit is not possible. In 2019 there were 12 measured sites which exceeded the legal limit as an annual mean. You can find out more about AQMAs by visiting the Defra website.
Colchester has 3 Air Quality Management areas. A map showing these areas and the roads included can be accessed on the Defra’s interactive map or by reading our Annual Status Reports.
Colchester Borough Council has over 62 air pollution testing sites throughout the borough including a continuous monitor on Brook Street.
Of our 62 sites 61 are measured using diffusion tubes. These measure the average monthly level Nitrogen Dioxide. At one of our sites there is a continuous monitoring station which monitors air pollution 24/7.
We regularly test the levels of pollution in the air, and produce Annual Status Reports of our findings.
Air pollution has been linked to many health problems including asthma, strokes, cancer and heart disease. Shockingly 1 in 20 deaths in Colchester are linked to pollution. Children are particularly at risk – research has shown pollution effects their lung growth and development. The elderly and those with heart and respiratory conditions are also vulnerable to its effects.
Sign up to AirText a free service which gives you updates about the air quality forecast in Colchester. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ UK AIR website also has an air quality forecast service. Air pollution forecasts can be particularly beneficial if you are within a vulnerable group.
Switch off your engine when you are not moving – this one simple action can cut pollution by up to 30%, saves fuel, saves money and helps protect yours and your loved ones’ health.
Try walking, cycling or scooting instead of driving for one journey a week. A quarter of all car journeys in Colchester are under 2 miles long, and short car journeys pollute more. If everyone walked, cycled or scooted even one of these journeys a week it would make a huge difference.
Car sharing is a great way to reduce air pollution, while saving money and having company on your journey. By car sharing you’ll be taking cars off the road reducing unnecessary journey miles and reducing your contribution to air pollution. In addition, using public transport can be a quicker and easier way to get around Colchester and reducing your air pollution footprint.
We will be bringing out ‘top tips’ for reducing air pollution and reducing your exposure to air pollution in addition to other information. For our latest updates please subscribe to our email mailing list, you can find this on our project homepage.
Switching on and off does not damage your car. In a bid to bust this myth Transport for London tested cars by repeatedly turning them on and off over 100 times in an hour. They found there was no loss of performance or damage to the engine or battery from doing so.
No. According to the RAC, sitting with the engine running for 10 seconds uses more fuel than switching off and on.
You can reduce your pollution exposure by up to 50% by walking and cycling away from busy roads. Make the most of those quiet side streets and green spaces and make your journey healthier and more enjoyable.
Sign up to AirText, a free service which gives you updates about the air quality forecast in Colchester.
The main source of Colchester’s pollution comes from vehicles and as is mentioned above small easy changes to driving habits, such as switching your engines off when you are not moving, can cut pollution by up to 30% and the effects are immediate.
Yes. The Clean Air Survey was just the start. The survey helped us get a better understanding of what is currently known about pollution and the effect it has on our health and well-being. There are also opportunities for you to tell us what concerns you about pollution in Colchester and what you think should or could be done to tackle it.
You can also sign-up to keep up to date with the project and find out more about volunteering opportunities and what you can do to help by going to our project homepage. You can also get involved by helping us spread the word, please share www.colchester.gov.uk/cleanair with your friends, relatives and colleagues. On the web page you will find information about the project and our short Clean Air film.
We encourage non-drivers to get involved, as everyone can help raise awareness of air pollution. Non-drivers have the best local tips and tricks for getting around without a car, this knowledge can be shared with car drivers and encourage increased walking, cycling and use of public transport.
16% of people don’t know where to go to find out information even though 82% of people in the UK think that air pollution reduction should be a priority. Please see the below links for more information about air pollution, and don’t forget to share the project with friends and family.
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ UK AIR website has lots of information about air pollution, in addition to their UK Air, air pollution forecasting service.Public Health England also produces advice and information about the health effects of air pollution. The UK Government Clean Air Strategy outlines the health effects and sources of air pollution in addition to effects on the natural environment and economy.
The Clean Air Hub has a range of information relating to both indoor and outdoor air pollution. Their webpage contains facts about air pollution and health in addition on to other information.
Visit our partners, Clean Air Colchester.
For local information on air pollution in Colchester read our Air Quality Annual Status Report
If you have a question that has not been answered above or any other enquiry, please get in touch with the team via email: Cleanair@colchester.gov.uk