NEW road signs have been installed in Weymouth in a bid to steer lorries and heavy vehicles away from one of Weymouth's most polluted streets.
Highways authority Dorset Council is signposting southbound heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) away from Rodwell Road amid air quality concerns in the Boot Hill area.
Uphill acceleration on Boot Hill has been identified as a key contributor to high emissions - where air monitoring devices have shown that levels of toxic nitrogen dioxide exceed World Health Organisation safe guidelines by more than double.
The new signed route starts at Chafey’s Roundabout and directs southbound HGVs to use Weymouth Way, Granby Way, Hampshire Road, Cumberland Drive (Granby), Lanehouse Rocks Road and Portland Road.
On their return journey from the Wyke area and Portland, northbound HGVs will be signed to use Buxton Road, Rodwell Road (Boot Hill), Westwey Road and Weymouth Way.
New road signs have been put up in an attempt to stop lorries travelling up Boot Hill in Weymouth
It comes amid recent proposals for developments at Newton's Cove and the Portland waste incinerator, which could see a significant increase in traffic up Boot Hill.
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- Anger as air quality monitor on Boot Hill found to be inactive
While air monitoring devices have shown high levels of nitrogen dioxide in the Boot Hill area, calls have recently been made for another monitoring device on Boot Hill to be repaired in order to record levels of cancer-causing particulate matter, also linked to respiratory disease.
As reported, the device has been out of action since 2019, with no plans for it to be repaired. However, Dorset Council's latest moves have been welcomed as a step in the right direction by local ward councillor Clare Sutton.
Cllr Sutton, who represents the Rodwell and Wyke Ward, said: “Air pollution and congestion on Boot Hill has been a major concern for some time, not only for residents, but also for local children and families, some of whom walk it on a daily basis. More active travel, car-sharing and use of public transport would of course also help but I very much welcome this as a sensible step in the right direction.”
Residents have been campaigning about the pollution levels on the road since the traffic light system was installed in 2011, but were refused compensation from the former Dorset County Council as the changes ‘did not alter the road’.
Commenting in 2014 one resident, Linda Skuse, said: “The pollution caused since these traffic lights have been put in is ridiculous.
“You can’t leave washing to hang outside because it turns black. If you dust in the morning, by the afternoon there is already a thick layer of dust back again.
“There have been occasions where the stuff coming out of the lorries is so thick that you can’t even see across the road.”
At the time it was said that the traffic problems also had detrimental effect on house prices on the road.
Dorset Council said the new traffic signs are part of a wider Portland Corridor Project. The project is geared towards finding practical solutions to manage traffic along the busy route and balance the competing priorities of access to Portland, pedestrian safety, road safety, local access, parking and public transport.
It comes amid an air quality public consultation by Dorset Council regarding Chideock in west Dorset - which last year was revealed to be England's most polluted village. More details about the consultation are available on the council's website at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/air-quality-consultation - the survey closes on January 9 2022.
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