Promises, promises
Conservative councillors object to strategies that are in their own election manifesto.
On 9th March 2021 Derbyshire Conservatives made the following post on their Facebook Page:
"We will introduce speed reduction schemes and clean air zones in our towns and villages where local people support it."
The promise was repeated in their full manifesto published later.
So why have Conservative Leader Barry Lewis and Deputy Leader Simon Spencer come out all guns blazing in an attempt to shoot down Derbyshire Dales District Council for having made the decision to ask for exactly that?
They also plead lack of courtesy in the 'sudden' announcement of the addition of a 20 mph speed limit and a 'Clean Air Zone' to the Air Quality Action Plan consultation that is due to be put before the people of Ashbourne. This seems strange since the report of DCC Highways officer Alan Marsden in February 2022 indicates that both these measures had been suggested by Ashbourne residents in 2021 and ruled out as "not being part of County Council policy".
It's a consultation!
Now of course the people of Ashbourne may not support a clean air zone or even a 20 mph speed limit. They will have an opportunity to express their opinion on these and several other measures that have been put forward to try to reduce the serious levels of pollutants in the town.
However before rejecting these extra measures, residents might like to check that they have not rejected the two things that might have worked.
Who would be charged if there was a Clean Air Zone?
It will only affect owners of older commercial vehicles who have registered their vehicles outside Ashbourne. So most Ashbourne residents won't face a charge but will have the benefit of cleaner air. If you want to see if your vehicle is likely to be charged you can look it up using the registration number here.
What about a by-pass? Surely that is the best option?
Almost certainly. There are just two major problems;
1. It will take several years to be built even after planning permission has been applied for.
2. Nobody has promised the funding for it yet.
Because of this a 'relief road' cannot even be included in the action plan. The plan has to contain actions that will reduce levels of the polluting gas nitrogen dioxide within 3 years. The by-pass can only be a long term goal.
In the meantime something must be done to rid the town of 'poisonous air'.