WITH reference to the article re air pollution in the Courier (March 25).

The measuring equipment in Exeter Road which analyses the concentration of particulates uses out-of-date 1980’s technology and, unless calibrated, will give false readings.

You don’t need expensive measuring equipment to see what the air quality is like. Glass windows, being part of the triboelectric series can often give you a useful visual guide as they often have an electrostatic charge caused by rubbing them with a cloth when cleaning which will cause the glass to attract particles.

The same could be found on tube type TV screens years ago where the 25,000 volt charge would attract dust onto the screen.

(The Triboelectric Series is a list of materials, showing which have a greater tendency to become positive (+) and which have a greater tendency to become negative (-). The list is a handy tool to determine which combinations of materials create the most static electricity.)

I can’t see what public health manager (Walter Mitty) Simon Newcome’s report means as Joan Farley still has to clean her windows daily as with the Exeter Road residents. If the pollution fell as much as he says, Joan need not clean every day. All we are told is that there is a step down in pollution.

There are no actual before and after readings provided in the article which, of course, renders the statement meaningless.

The report should at least indicate the methodology used. It should also take into account the time of day when measurements are taken to ascertain particulate density.

Even if there is a 10 per cent drop in pollution (a step down) there is still 90 per cent left. According to councillors who talk as though the problem has gone away when in fact I don’t think that is the case at all judging by the fact that the traffic flow has increased.

We want the full report, so it can be read by people who know what they are talking about, not the executive summary.

There are about 36 firms mentioned on the bill board as you enter Lords Meadow Industrial Estate so the HGV’s delivering to the estate are limited.

The buses still pass through Exeter Road, as do many HGV’s delivering to the town and going to North Devon.

As regards the High Street, traffic is often held up by the Walter Mitty-designed ridiculous bus stop opposite Tesco Express causing tailbacks up to St Lawrence Green all with their engines running inefficiently.

I’ve no doubt the reduction figures were probably taken during the sewer repairs which would show a big drop!

Diesel particulates are very fine. The primary (nuclei) carbon particles have a diameter of 0.01 - 0.08 micron, while the agglomerated particles diameter is in the 0.08 to 1 micron range.

As such, diesel particulate matter is almost totally respirable and has a significant health impact on humans. It has been classified by several government agencies as either “human carcinogen” or “probable human carcinogen”. It is also known to increase the risk of heart and respiratory diseases.

I have asked some people who live in Exeter Road and they all say there is no difference in traffic flow, so the Link Road has not had an effect.

There were about 14,000 vehicle movements recorded a few years ago and there will be more as Landscore School is taking more pupils.

There was no consultation or interest about traffic management or even traffic calming measures and parking in Threshers and with Pedlarspool, and the proposed new build opposite Tesco, it will be worse.

There will be gridlock as well. Cllr Coren states that the traffic flow on the link road is 10 per cent higher. As the traffic was counted, by a Crediton Traffic Action Group (CTAG) member, to 4,000 vehicles a day, 10 per cent would only be 400 which is not a lot.

I have travelled the link road and have seen very few cars. The High Street is still polluted. It is not a success story as we are led to believe. I’ve no doubt Walter Mitty would approve.

“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (1939) is a short story by James Thurber. The most famous of Thurber’s stories, it first appeared in The New Yorker on March 18, 1939. A film was made of it.

The name Walter Mitty and the derivative word “Mittyesque” have entered the English language, denoting an ineffectual person who spends more time in heroic daydreams than paying attention to the real world, or more seriously, one who intentionally attempts to mislead or convince others that he is something that he is not or what he has done which never happened in this case.

A Burge

Threshers

Crediton