(Title Image: © Copyright Lewis Clarke and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence)
With Bridgend Council required to submit an air pollution control report to the Welsh Government by the end of the month, next week BCBC’s Cabinet will be updated on the situation along Park Street (pdf).
Most of Park Street in Bridgend was placed under an Air Quality Management Area due to air pollution levels which exceed guidelines.
Although there have been delays installing an automated air pollution monitor at the Quaker Meeting House, with queueing traffic the main cause of the pollution, several highways options have been shortlisted.
These include:
- Making St Leonard’s Road no-entry (this isn’t explained in any great detail, but presumably from Park Street only).
- “Optimising” the Park Street/Tondu Road/Angel Street junction using a system which will adjust the amount of time the traffic lights remain on green based on traffic demand (MOVA).
- Signalising the Heol-y-Nant junction.
All of the options will require full consultants reports (as you might expect). The appendix (pdf p13-23) suggests the total cost of all of the options ranges between £70,000-£350,000.
Twenty or so options were rejected, including piloting a 20mph limit along Park Street (the Welsh Government are making their own moves there); shuttle bus services between Bridgend railway station and park and ride-style services at Broadlands, Princess of Wales Hospital, McArthur Glen and the Coity area; signs encouraging drivers to switch off their engines when traffic stops.
