Easy fix for Ashbourne’s Air Pollution Issue?
The report commissioned by Derbyshire County Council from Aecom to investigate the cost effectiveness of various actions designed to reduce air pollution has some mystifying features.
It evaluates each action under 4 headings with each gaining a mark out of 5;
- Cost ranges from over £500k (scores1) to under £10k (scores 5). The scale is NOT linear.
- Air quality benefit No descriptors for each value are given but 1 is least benefit and 5 most.
- Time for implementation ranges from under 6 months (5) to over 3 years (1)
- Time for impact ranges from impact in under 6 months (5) to over 3 years (1)
These are then added together (??!!) to give an overall score.
To make clear how ridiculous this is, consider the following example of a 'possible' method for reducing NOx levels on Ashbiurne's roads.
A resident on Buxton Road agrees to shout loudly at every passing HGV, instructing them to choose another route and so reduce the number of polluting HGVs and therefore improve the air quality.
Let us see how it scores.
He can start tomorrow so that is a 5 for implementation and he doesn't need to install any special equipment so that is another 5 for time for impact. He promises to do it for £100 a week so that is a 5 for cost. It wont work (believe me I have tried it) but there is no zero for air quality benefit so that gets a 1. Total 16 and it joins tree trimming as the most cost effective measure for solving Ashbourne's pollution problem.
It is noted that the author of the report no longer works for Aecom but has moved to a job in New Zealand. This I am sure is pure coincidence.