In our previous article, we talked of the Air Quality Monitoring being undertaken by Luton Rising (LR), as part of the Statutory Preliminaries to triggering their Development Consent Order (DCO) consent. We have now had a reply to our Freedom of Information request and will share the gist of that with you now.
The header picture for this article shows the smaller monitoring units. The box has direct livestream technology; the tubes below are standard monitoring devices, which trap pollutants, and then are changed and inspected at regular intervals. The sites selected for those units were those identified in in Section 2.2 of the following document submitted as part of the DCO.
DCO Application – Report template (Read-Only)
While a live stream data from these sites can be followed on this site: https://www.airqualityengland.co.uk/enterprise/?enterprise_id=10003#
We were told in the FOI, that Site 12 – New Airport Way unit has been moved, as the original site was subject to vandalism. We are confused, as there is no footpath along this road, so are baffled as to how anyone could have got to it, without risking life and limb? The map quality on the original DCO Document is not great, but cross referencing with the other site, it would appear the new site chosen is not on New Airport Way, but on the Lower Harpenden Road, which can be accessed on foot, and of course, is not the main artery to the airport.
Calculated Decision, or Sloppy Design?
The site detailed at the Vauxhall Way end of Eaton Green Road, is the larger monitor. As shown in the previous piece, as of the 8th of May, works on the base/power supply has been started. This site is a DEFRA equivalent reference monitor, to validate the data collected at the other sites. It is only required to monitor for 3 months during the calendar year period of monitoring. A site in Luton being used to benchmark those in Hitchin, and others miles away, sounds odd, but who knows when it comes to UK Planning Law?
You will also notice on the maps: there is no monitoring being undertaken on Wigmore Lane, or on Vauxhall Way, two key arteries for the Terminal 2 site on Wigmore Valley Park. Wigmore Lane is planned to be expanded to four lanes from Crawley Green Road to Eaton Green Road, as the Terminal 2 Spur Road will come out on Eaton Green Road.
Wigmore Lane contains two school sites, and a third near enough that it would experience extra pollutants, but this road was not deemed necessary for monitoring. Should New Airport Way be closed for any reason, Vauxhall Way/Wigmore Lane become the key access points.
Calculated Decision, or Sloppy Design?
Of course, the other important question, is just how the raw data from these sites will actually be used? As none of these roads are all airport access specific, we can assume that a weighting will be applied, which we the public will either not be privy to, or will be so drenched in technobabble, as to be unintelligible to the lay person.
In other words, the data will be made to meet the remit, rather than reflect the truth. The final reports should be published early/middle 2027. Whatever form they may take, we will wait and see.