Wiltshire launches air quality website

Residents in Wiltshire can now view latest air pollution levels and register for an SMS and email air pollution alert service

Wiltshire county council has launched a new air quality website enabling users to view the latest air pollution levels at the county’s monitoring sites.

Launched earlier this month (November 13), residents can also sign up on the wiltshireairquality.co.uk to receive SMS text and email alerts to warn them when there are episodes of high air pollution.

Wiltshire county council’s monitoring site (green box in background) on Masons Lane in Bradford-on-Avon

A map on the website shows the latest nitrogen dioxide (NO2) , nitrogen oxide (NOx), nitric oxide (NO) and particulate matter (PM2.5) data from the county’s four monitoring sites.

The four sites in the county are located on Masons Lane in Bradford-on-Avon, New Road in Calne, Sidmouth Street in Devizes and Exeter Street in Salisbury.

In addition, the website contains information and health advice on air pollution and a latest news page.

According to the council, the warnings will benefit people with medical conditions that can be affected by air pollution, such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, allowing them to take action if necessary to minimise exposure to episodes of poor air quality.

Councillor Keith Humphries, cabinet member responsible for public health, said: “We have been working hard with local communities to improve air quality in pollution hotspots around Wiltshire, however it is difficult due to the increased use and reliance on the car. This new website will help people see where the problems are in the county and hopefully help change some travel habits.”

Users can also download the council’s Air Quality Action Plan, progress reports, strategies and assessments from April 2009 onwards on the website, which is designed and maintained by consultancy Ricardo-AEA.

Maggie Rae, the council’s corporate director, said: “We are lucky in Wiltshire that we have such good air quality already, and we are working closely with our communities to try to improve it. This service will be incredibly useful to many people, in particular those with specific needs, such as those who suffer from asthma or hay fever, who will use it to help manage their quality of life.”

Last month, transport minister Baroness Kramer visited Wiltshire to officially open the Corsham electric vehicle chargepoint as part of the council’s planned network of rapid charge points in the county (see airqualitynews.com story).