THERE are now a combination of proposals and applications for housing developments round Crediton, including Creedy Bridge, Chapel Downs and Wellparks above the A377 and Tesco store.

If these all go ahead, then we can expect the following adverse consequences.

1 The poor air quality in the High Street already adversely affects the health of those using the High Street and Charlotte Street to walk to school, or shop and those who drive along the A377.

Recent measurements of in-car air quality show that it can be at least as bad as that outside.

Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) has never measured the concentration of particulates, PM10s which can penetrate and be retained within the lungs. Very small particulates, the PM2.5s, may be transferred from the nose and lungs into the brain via the bloodstream. These have been linked to the development of Alzheimers Disease.

2 The increased traffic both through and into Crediton generated by the housing developments is bound to worsen the existing situation. We know that heavy goods vehicles, HGVs including agricultural vehicles, contribute overwhelmingly, as much as 10 times particulates and nitrogen oxides as that of a diesel car. Increasing traffic flows will, by increasing congestion, increase the times at which HGVs are stationary, idling and moving slowly, which increase their polluting exhausts.

The relief road was built as the route into Lords Meadow Industrial Estate.

It has opened up the site at Wellparks for housing and failed to reduce traffic through Crediton as Devon County Council did predict.

DCC and MDDC councillors were satisfied that this would allow them to delete the protected route for the Northern Bypass.

Since then they have not brought forward any alternative route for traffic to avoid using the High Street, but it is clear that some drivers are using the rat-run along Blagdon, up Jockey Hill and from the top along Higher Road to Barnstaple Cross. ?Before permission is given for any further developments round Crediton, MDDC should measure continuously, over at least two years and publicise the concentrations of the pollutants, nitrogen dioxide and particulates in the High Street.

If, and only if, the air quality in the High Street can be shown to satisfy the UK standards, then they should also publish predictions for the air quality which will develop if developments are allowed.?In the event that the air quality in the High Street is not satisfactory, then a number of different options should be considered.

Firstly banning the transit of HGVs except for deliveries or collections in the High Street.

Secondly encouraging the use of electrically powered vehicles by installing charging points in and around Crediton.

Thirdly investigating and costing routes to provide an alternative for traffic to avoid the High Street.  Devon County Council has been asked about this many times and have never reported back to Crediton. ?I have little faith that either MDDC or DCC will tackle seriously the issue of air pollution in Crediton.

I urge our Councillors to give this issue a high priority as it affects the health of so many of us.?John Boyle

Wescott

Fordton