Campaigner pinpoints pollution blackspot in Canterbury

Environmental activist Richard Norman described Canterbury’s two railway level crossings as “notorious locations” for harmful car emissions.

Mr Norman, a member of the Canterbury Biodiversity Network, believes cars waiting to cross the track are a large contributor to the city’s emissions.

He said: “Even though there are signs saying please turn off your engine when you are waiting, it is only a minority that do so.

“The worst situation for air quality and particulates is cars queuing and of course it’s particularly in the rush hour when people are commuting that you’ve got the congestion, you’ve got long queues where people are static in their cars, spewing out particulates and carbon emissions.”

This came in response to data from the Government census about how people in Kent commute to work.

The two most recent sets of data, while showing a large increase in the number of individuals working from home, shows a decrease in those using public transport.

However, commuting by car is still the most common form of transport.

Fellow activist Sian Pettman added: “Public health is being impacted by particulates from all forms of hydrocarbons but particularly diesel particulates and that can have a huge impact on the health of particularly young children and also people with asthma or COPD.

“I think there is a big public health issue concerning private cars.”

Feature image: Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash