To receive questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and responses thereto.
Details of questions should be notified to the Democratic Services Manager by 10.00am at least three working days prior to the meeting. Further information about speaking at a committee can be found here: Speaking at a Committee
Minutes:
A member of the public, Mr F submitted the following question, related to Minute No. 99:-
· East Wonford Hill, Fore St Heavitree, Pinhoe & Honiton Rd, Livery Dole, all experienced Year on Year increases in NO2. We know why, does Council agree with the HATOC decision, supported by 4 ECC councillors that suspending the LTN trial was best for the health of the residents of these streets.
The Portfolio Holder for City Management in responding advised that concentrations of NO2 had in fact reduced at these five sites, as was the case with all sites in Exeter since 2019, which was shown in the graphs included within the report. The report being presented concluded, that it had not been possible to identify any impact from the LTN trial in the 2023 either positive or negative.
Mr F made asked a supplementary question:-
· The air quality issue was year on year and not just from 2019. People living in Heavitree believe that since the suspension of the LCN there had been a reduction in traffic and congestion on East Wonford Hill, and therefore NO2 emissions may have reduced. As there was now real-time data, why did residents have to wait another year to find out and would the Council consider sharing this potential good news sooner?
The Portfolio Holder for City Management and the Interim Director for Environment, Waste and Operations responded that Exeter had two fixed air quality monitoring stations which were calibrated and approved by DEFRA located on Queen Street and Alphington Road.
The Council currently didn’t have real time data due to the use nitro-converter tubes and monitoring data is sent off to accredited labs to be analysed, before being reported back.
A member of the public, Mr M submitted the following question, related to Minute No. 9:-
· Once again NO2 year on year measured for East Wonford Hill has exceeded 40mg, the exceedance objective, increasing again last year perhaps due to increased traffic forced onto it by the failed LTN trial. When and what action would Exeter City Council take to reduce it and protect the residents of Heavitree?
The Portfolio Holder for City Management in responding stated that the measured level of NO2 at East Wonford Hill was 0.1 micro gram per meter cubed higher in 2023 than 2022, which was a 0.2% increase, and likely to be statistically insignificant. This could also be compared to a fall of 35% since 2019 or a 43% reduction since 2012, which were when the levels were the highest measures at this location.
The measures which the Council and other key partners continue to take to improve air quality were clearly set out in the action plan contained in the report being presented at the meeting.
Mr M on putting a supplementary question, asked that given that the Air Quality Act had been in place in Exeter for a number of years, East Watford Hill had fallen below 40, which had only happened once in ten years, following Covid. The action plan didn’t seem to be working, so what could be done to help the people in Heavitree?
The Portfolio Holder for City Management advised that the action plan was in place, but another years’ worth of data was needed. The 2024 data would not be available until July 2025 for analysis. In the meantime, the current air quality action plan management area, still included East Watford Hill.