A PARISH councillor claimed children were being ‘poisoned’ during a discussion about the lack of action over the dangerous air quality in Gunnislake — sparking a working party to be formed to tackle the issue.

At a meeting of Calstock Parish Council last week, parish councillor and Cornwall Councillor for Gunnislake Dorothy Kirk raised her continued concerns about the air quality in the village — an issue that has been ongoing for a number of years.

Cornwall Council carried out a detailed assessment into the pollution levels in the village back in 2011, confirming that the levels of nitrogen dioxide gas exceeded the Government objectives for levels of pollution. The biggest source of nitrogen dioxide is the exhaust fumes from vehicles travelling through the village along the A390.

Cllr Kirk showed the council a map detailing the area affected by the pollution, which spanned from New Bridge, along the river up to Lower Dimson and Middle Dimson and half way up Sand Hill.

Cllr Kirk said: ‘Gunnislake is one of only six places in Cornwall that failed the air quality survey — and it failed it quite seriously.

‘There are hotspots in the village as well, like Alma Terrace. That is in the worst possible category for pollution. Because of the narrowness of the road and the topography of the valley, the pollution can’t escape.’

‘It was hoped the new traffic lights in the village centre would speed up traffic to reduce the number of cars waiting and reduce pollution, but the survey has not been done yet to see if they are having an effect. It has been long enough that the A390 has not been fit for purpose as a major trunk road — yet it is one.’

Cllr Kirk highlighted that when the parish council is asked to identify possible sites for affordable housing, councillors should take into account that more housing would mean more traffic, resulting in more pollution.

She said: ‘We should have some responsibility to be aware of the consequence of our own decisions. Every time another development goes forward, more traffic is produced, meaning more pollution. We have no solution proposed yet for reducing the pollution which is poisoning our children.’

It was asked whether Cornwall Council’s highways department could look into putting up signs that ask motorists to turn off their engines if they were going to be stationary at traffic lights for more than a minute but fellow councillors were unsure if that would work.

Cllr Dick Hoile said: ‘Doesn’t Cornwall Council have a legal requirement to do something about this? I think we should form a working party to support Dorothy’s efforts in dealing with this. They [Cornwall Council] have been kicking it in the grass for years and years and we have to do something about it because it is killing people.’

It was agreed that a parish council Air Quality Working Party would be formed to discuss the problems surrounding the air quality and try to get some answers and actions from the county council.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said that an action plan was currently being prepared: ‘The council declared Gunnislake as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in March 2014 and since this time we have been preparing an Air Quality Action Plan to help improve air quality. This is nearing completion and we are planning to begin public consultation on the proposed measures. This will include the public, parish council and local businesses.

‘The council has a legal obligation to review and assess air quality against health-based objectives under the Environment Act 1995. Where an objective is not being met — or unlikely to be met — the council has a duty to declare an AQMA and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan.

‘There are six AQMAs in Cornwall, including Gunnislake. Other AQMAs include Tideford, Bodmin, St Austell, Camborne-Pool-Redruth and Truro. We have an existing Air Quality Action Plan and this is currently being reviewed at the same time as the Gunnislake, St Austell and Truro sections of the plan are being prepared.

‘The action plan includes a wide range of measures such as improvement and promotion of public transport, encouragement of alternative forms of transport such as walking and cycling, where appropriate, and highway measures to help improve traffic flow and reduce congestion and vehicle emissions.’

More information about air quality, including a copy of the existing action plan, is available on the council’s website www.cornwall.gov.uk/airquality