Minister reacts to air quality concerns

Boot issues statement over 'inadequate' response

The environment minister has reacted to a letter sent to him by three Tynwald members concerned about air pollution testing in the Isle of Man.

MHKs Ralph Peake and Bill Shimmins, and Bill Henderson MLC, ended up paying for tests to be carried out out of their own pockets, after Geoffrey Boot told them the biennial assessments currently carried out were adequate.

Monitoring six spots around Douglas, the trio's tests showed nitrogen dioxide levels at Quarterbridge exceeded the European Union limit in December last year, and were very close to doing so in January this year as well.

The letter said Mr Boot's refusal to conduct more-regular air quality monitoring beyond the current rate of once every two years put the Island, 'out of step with every other nation in Europe.'

In a statement issued by Mr Boot, he said his department was currently considering a response to the letter, and went on the make a few points in the meantime.

It says, "However, as I said in Tynwald last week, and in response to previous questions, continuous monitoring ceased because testing carried out over the preceding 12 years had not identified significant problems.

"In April 2018 the department undertook additional monitoring at five locations that had previously been monitored for nitrogen dioxide.

"The levels of nitrogen dioxide in all locations monitored this April were below the UK/EU target maximum and the results were broadly in line with the results of previous regular monitoring that ceased after 2009.

"This monitoring did not suggest that air quality had deteriorated overall since regular monitoring ceased and on this basis it was determined that there was no justification for continuous monitoring.

"I have committed the department to undertaking a similar ‘snapshot’ sampling once every two years, in order that any significant change may be detected.

"The decision in 2009 to reduce monitoring was not a decision to ignore air quality issues. Rather than monitoring specific air quality government is focussed on pro-actively reducing emissions.

"I understand that there are suggestions that the only action that could be taken to mitigate increased vehicle emissions would be greater use of electric vehicles. The government has introduced a mitigation strategy, and a number of the actions contained within the first five year action plan associated with the strategy are specifically included to reduce emissions from vehicles and stimulate the uptake of electric vehicles.

"Mr Shimmin (sic) is already aware that I expect to make a statement and launch a consultation regarding the priorities of our next five year action plan in March Tynwald. This will provide an ideal opportunity for the public to consider our future plans to further reduce emissions, including initiatives to continue to develop the adoption of electric vehicles."