Bridgend Council has been granted an extended deadline to introduce a lasting solution to air pollution problems on Park Street in Bridgend (pdf).
Despite traffic reductions caused by the pandemic – which resulted in an up to 22% decline in nitrogen dioxide emissions – parts of Park Street continued to exceed guidelines during 2020.
The problem area seems to be at and around the junction between Park Street and St Leonard’s Road based on measurements from roadside monitors (p4 of the report).
In September 2020, Bridgend Council drafted three options to deal with the issue: making St Leonards’ Road no-entry; changing the light phases at the Angel Street/Park Street junction; introducing a fully signalised junction at Heol-y-Nant.
The Heol-y-Nant option has been ruled out as a right-turn lane from Park Street into Heol-y-Nant will be included as part of the housing development at the former Ysgol Bryn Castell. Work is continuing on the other two options.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Welsh Government has agreed to extend the deadline for Bridgend Council to prepare a draft air quality management action plan to March 31st 2022.
