THE air quality situation in Exeter Road, Crediton is getting dangerous. We need some honest answers which is why I have sent the following letter to Mr Paul Ewings, Engineering Design Group, Devon County Council:
I AM sure you have, by now, received many reports and statistics on the air quality in Exeter Road, Crediton.
These are all very well and are no doubt produced by experts, but to properly judge the effects of the pollution, you would need, as I do, to have lived on Exeter Road for all of my 69 years, with my front door in touching distance of the constant stream of lorries and other traffic.
I have actually been struck on the elbow by a lorry when two vehicles were trying to pass each other.
Now we have all the extra traffic which has come with the Tesco store.
As long ago as 1998, the dangers of this air pollution were well-known and reported in the press.
The report stated that legislation was passed to empower local councils to take action to reduce pollution, to be brought into effect in 1999.
At that time this delay of just one year was thought unacceptable, when people's health was at risk.
More than 10 years on we are still waiting and suffering.
When the last exhibition was held in the Town Hall and was reported on television, we were informed that Crediton did not warrant a by-pass. This might have been justified in 1998, but now it is utter rubbish.
I enclose a carbon monoxide monitor which I keep just inside my front door and change it frequently. I do not have gas in the house, nor a coal fire - just electricity.
I also enclose a sample of the black residue which can be wiped from my window daily.
As a member of Crediton Traffic Action Group (CTAG), I was interested to read Michael Fennessy's report on particulate pollution.
Why has it taken so long to recognise this serious situation and to do something about it. The time is fast coming when somebody must be held legally liable.
Joan Farley
9 Exeter Road
Crediton