Monday 23 June 2014

Tackling air pollution - Lochee Road

Given the long-standing concerns I have raised about air quality in part of Lochee Road (from Polepark Road in the east to Tullideph Road in the west), along with Andrew Llanwarne of Friends of the Earth, I today met with four senior Environment and Transportation council officers to discuss ways that this problem can be further tackled, both specifically at Lochee Road and - wider - at air quality hot-spots across Dundee.

We had a very positive discussion about numerous aspects including trying to reduce car queuing at this complicated series of junctions, other traffic aspects such as vehicle manoeuvres at junctions and traffic levels and the possible future upgrade of the bus fleets to hybrid buses on routes using Lochee Road, something I recently discussed with the Managing Director of National Express Dundee.

The City Council is currently undertaking a scientific review of the air quality modelling work and an assurance was given that briefings will be given towards the end of 2014 on the issue and on further steps to improve air quality at these hotspots, invitations to which will include councillors, stakeholders like Friends of the Earth and residents' and community groups in the affected areas.

I spoke on Radio Tay News about the issue today - you can hear the interview by clicking 'play' below: