THE CHAIRMAN of the Dinas Powys By-pass Steering group is questioning council officials over whether there’s been a recent rise in pollution along the transport corridor through Dinas Powys.

Rod Harrod says he is curious to know whether there has been a rise particularly along part of the A4055 at Railway Terrace in Eastbrook.

As part of their recently published Stage 2 Report for the M4 Junction 34 proposed by-pass of Pendoylan to the A48, consultants Arcadis quoted Air Quality Progress Reports.

Railway Terrace on the Cardiff Road was one of five locations in the Vale where the reports showed road traffic emissions of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) as at, or close to, the relevant annual average concentration limit of 40 ug/m3.

The others were Windsor Road, Cogan; Penarth; Cogan Roundabout; Tynewydd Road, Barry; and Culverhouse Cross.

Councillors say the Vale Cabinet spent thousands of pounds cleaning up and redecorating the frontage of houses along Windsor Road in Cogan, but say that nothing has been said about Railway Terrace in Dinas Powys.

“We will possibly find out more when the Arcadis Stage 2 study into the Dinas Powys transport corridor is made available for public consultation,” said Mr Harrod.

“If anything the situation must have got worse in the last few years with the hugely increased HGV traffic on the A4055. Large lorries are not just travelling through the village but servicing the three construction sites in the village.

"In the last 18 months, with the completion of the stretch of A4232 from Cardiff docks, even more heavy vehicles heading west have been using the A4055 through Dinas Powys. And all the time Barry Waterfront expands generating more traffic on the A4055.

“There’s only one solution – the long-awaited by-pass. That’s the only way traffic can be taken off the existing road so that it can be turned into a ‘B’ road with a weight restrictions and a speed limit.”

In response, the leader of the Vale Council, John Thomas, said that the matter of congestion and pollution has been discussed and the council will be working with the community of Dinas Powys.

Cllr Thomas said: “The most recent results for air quality monitoring in the Vale, which relate to 2017, indicate air quality objectives for NO2 were met at all sampling stations positioned on or in close proximity to the A4055. In general, there is a trend of decreasing No2 levels at all these locations and most recorded their lowest levels for the last five years.

“New sampling locations have been added for 2018, including monitoring at residential properties on Cardiff Road in the Dinas Powys area. Though Full results for the year are not yet available, early data indicates compliance with set air quality objectives.

“I have previously met with representatives from Dinas Powys to discuss both their and our aspirations for improving the traffic situation in the village. I recognise the understandable concerns over the significant congestion in Dinas Powys at certain times of the day. It is for this reason that my administration has taken the matter extremely seriously and continues to work with the local community, road users and all other interested parties to progress the case for improvements.”