Exclusive by Alan Quick

AIR quality in Exeter Road and other parts of Crediton has improved significantly since the opening of the Lords Meadow Link Road – and figures also show use of the Link Road by HGV’s are higher than predicted.

The news has been welcomed by two Mid Devon District Councillors, Bob Wright (Lawrence, Crediton) and Derek Coren (Yeo).

The air quality figures were presented in a report to a meeting of Mid Devon District Council’s managing the environment group and showed that air quality figures were down in the main areas of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter (PM10).

The report, by Simon Newcombe, MDDC’s public health and professional services manager, stated: “In respect of NO2, concentrations have fallen significantly at all Exeter Road monitoring locations since the Link Road has opened. For the first full year in 2015, this is a reduction of between eight-34 per cent against the preceding five-year average.”

An Air Quality Management Area was established to help reduce the air quality problems in Crediton.

The new report says that “the Link Road has provided an effective step change for the better in NO2 air quality at Exeter Road.

It continues: “In respect of PM10, the data indicates that concentrations have continued to fall at all the Exeter Road monitoring locations since the Link Road has opened.”

The report added that the “Link Road has also provided an effective step change for the better in PM10 air quality at Exeter Road.”

Mr Newcombe’s report adds: “Early traffic data shows traffic flows using the road are close to modelled predictions and a significant proportion of HGV’s and other traffic previously using Exeter Road to access the Lords Meadow Industrial Estate is now using the Link Road.”

Cllr Wright told the “Courier”: “These are exciting figures for Crediton.

“It is all really good news. HGV’s using the Link Road is at almost 10 per cent, higher than predicted it would be.”

Cllr Coren added: “This is great news for Crediton. Heavy traffic on the Link Road is up to 10 per cent, particulates and Nitrogen Dioxide are both down.

“This is a not only a success story for the town but also Mid Devon District Council and its work to reduce the Air Quality issues in the town and also for Devon County Council who built the Link Road.”