Ewell car choke

12:32pm Wednesday 11th June 2008

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Ewell residents are being subjected to an alarming rate of poisonous fumes, tests have shown.

Air quality readings carried out have shown that Ewell Village has higher amounts than the national objective of the deadly nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas, which is caused by the high amount of congestion in the picturesque village.

The gas levels are such a cause for concern that council bosses have ordered that the area is subjected to strict air quality management and detailed monitoring is due to take place throughout the year so an action plan can be created.

The national upper limit for the gas is 40 microgrammes per cubed metre, but one reading from Ewell High Street recorded a level of 49 microgrammes.

Critics have claimed that the amount of congestion has risen dramatically since the introduction of new traffic lights in Ewell High Street near Bourne Hall, causing further pollution.

One resident, Alex Martin of West Street, said High Street became a standstill every morning. "The road is blocked most mornings with so many cars," he added. "I don't think the traffic lights should be removed because they're keeping pedestrians safe but the timings definitely need to be adjusted.

"When one light turns green cars can't move because one further up the road has turned red so it ends up with cars just sat there pumping fumes out. The road has always been busy but before the lights were installed it was free flowing most of the time."

But Surrey County Council, who installed the lights, said they were essential and revealed that the timings would not be altered.

A spokesman said: "The traffic signals were installed because pedestrians, particularly school children going to and from the local schools, and the elderly going to and from Bourne Hall, found it very difficult to cross due to the high volume of traffic.

"The consequence of introducing an extra set of traffic signals was a greater delay for motor vehicles but this is balanced by the fact it is now much safer for all pedestrians using the village.

"The council has looked at the operation of the signals with Members many times and the phasings run as they should."

An Epsom and Ewell Borough Council spokeswoman said: "We have installed additional monitoring in this area to try and increase our knowledge about what is happening and the automatic air quality monitor will add much to our knowledge of this. The area has also undergone computer modelling to predict what the concentrations might be."

The full air quality report can be viewed at epsom-ewell.gov.uk.