Sowerby Bridge News

Tackling Traffic Pollution In Sowerby Bridge

Calderdale Council and experts from the Transport and Environment Research Facility at the University of Leeds are monitoring air pollution on the A629, Salterhebble, Halifax and the A646 in Hebden Bridge to look at the link between traffic flows, vehicle types and exhaust emissions.

The exercise is part of a series of initiatives by the Council to help address poor air quality at the six designated ‘Air quality management areas’ in Calderdale which include:

• Huddersfield Road (Salterhebble Hill)
• Sowerby Bridge
• Hebden Bridge
• Luddendenfoot
• Stump Cross
• Brighouse.

An ‘Air quality management area’ is declared when the level of Nitrogen Dioxide in that area exceeds levels set by the Government.

The Council carries out routine air quality monitoring within each of the areas and has now obtained help from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to carry out this more detailed study.

Councillor Amanda Byrne, Cabinet Member for Economy and Environment said:

“The results of the survey will help to build a picture of the different types and ages of vehicles using some of the major routes in Calderdale and enable us to target and focus our efforts to improve air quality in the future.”