Jersey street exceeded air quality levels 14 times in 2022, report says

BBC
·2 min read
Close up of Beresford Street
The Government of Jersey report says the island has one of the highest car ownership levels [BBC]

Pollution on a street in Jersey exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) air quality levels 14 times in 2022, a report found.

The Government of Jersey report said the readings, at Beresford Street, happened in February, November and December.

However, levels were within the EU Directive limit of "35 exceedances" a year, the report added.

The government said it hoped a number of changes would improve air quality.

These include the introduction of MOTs for cars, renewable diesel, and cash incentives for electric and hybrid vehicles as part of the Carbon Neutral Road Map to achieve net zero by 2050.

UK-based air quality consultant, Ben Davies, said "35 exceedances" of the WHO guidelines were allowed per year.

Mr Davies said concerns about pollution had to be taken in the context of the weather and some public events.

The data, monitored by Natural Environment, compared particle data with relevant World Health Organization (WHO), European Union (EU), and UK air quality limit guidelines.

The report said 15 "false" exceedances were recorded at the Howard Davis Park site, St Helier, after the "heated inlet" failed in November.

This resulted in water vapour particles being measured.

The report said exceedances during the winter and spring months had been "expected" as this was when poor air quality tended to occur.

It said the island had one of the highest car ownership levels, with more than 175,000 vehicles registered to a population of 100,000.

Bonfire night

Currently, there is no MOT for cars and therefore older more polluting vehicles are still being driven, the report says.

Mr Davies said "non-human events", such as wildfires or Saharan dust storms, might also have contributed to the exceedances.

Celebrations such as bonfire night or new years eve may have also contributed.

"You're allowed 35 exceedances per year and, in Jersey, both sites tested were well below that number," he said.

Jersey politician constable Simon Crowcroft said motorists needed to get into the habit of turning their engines off.

Mr Crowcroft said not only was it "illegal" to leave a car engine on while the vehicle was unattended but it was also "incredibly unhealthy" for people on the street.

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