Air quality traffic surveys underway in Coventry

Traffic counts are underway in Coventry to inform measures to tackle air pollution in the city.

Locations on thirty major arterial routes have been identified for study on the cordon of the radial routes that connect into the Ring Road around the city, with traffic volumes to be assessed throughout the survey, which runs from yesterday (7 March) until 12 March.

Coventry city council has ruled out the introduction of a charging scheme to reduce vehicle emissions

This also includes strategic locations along the main radial routes which have been identified by the Council as having the highest NO2 concentrations (Holyhead Road, Foleshill Road / Longford Road, Stoney Stanton Road and Walsgrave Road).

Staff from Traffic Survey Partners Ltd will be monitoring the equipment throughout the period. High mast video camera are being used for the surveys.

Coventry city council is working with the government’s Joint Air Quality Unit on the plans to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions in line with EU air quality targets, having been identified within the July 2017 Air Quality Plan as being required to assess which steps will achieve compliance with the targets in the soonest possible timescale.

Charging

The council has previously stated that it would seek to avoid implementing an emissions based charging scheme for vehicles to access parts of the city.

Speaking on the issue in January, Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Coventry’s cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, said: “Yes, there are a small number of roads in the city where levels are higher than we would want at certain times of the day but they are not in the city centre.

“They are roads leading in and out of the city and we are closely monitoring the issue and working with Defra to identify ways of improving our city’s air quality and avoiding a need for a pollution charge.”