‘Extraordinary’ failure to test air quality in heavily congested Cork town

A senior HSE Public Health manager is “horrified” that no air-pollution monitoring has been carried out in Charleville, one of the most gridlocked towns in Munster.

Fine Gael councillor Aileen Browne, a business manager for the HSE Public Health who lives in the town, expressed “horrified” surprise that Cork County Council has never monitored air quality in Charleville.

More than 18,000 vehicles pass through Main St every day, many of them heavy-goods. And engines emit more pollution when they are ‘idling’ in traffic jams.

Ms Browne was responding after a written reply was given to councillors by Ger Barry, the local authority’s director of services, planning, and environment.

Mr Barry said: “At present, no previous air-quality assessments relating to Main St, Charleville, have been identified. 

Further enquiries and searches are ongoing to determine whether Cork County Council holds any historical records, assessment reports, or other relevant information.”

Recent assessment carried out

Mr Barry added that a recent assessment of traffic and air quality had been carried out in Charleville by a team designing the proposed upgrade of the N20 Cork-Limerick road to motorway status. The findings of this assessment will be made available in due course.

Ms Browne said she found it “extraordinary” that there has been no air-pollution monitoring in one of the most congested towns in Munster.

Councillors representing the Carrigaline area last year expressed shock that a council pollution monitor in the town had been out of action for 18 months. New equipment has since been installed.

Ms Browne said: “Everybody knows that you will be stuck in traffic for ages and all the emissions coming from gridlocked vehicles are there for the people of Charleville to inhale.”

Meanwhile, studies carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency showed that nitrogen dioxide levels in Macroom town centre were reduced by 53.8% after the bypass was opened.

Ms Browne said the respiratory health of locals in congested towns remains at risk. “We need to take concerns of our residents seriously and this council has a responsibility to take these concerns seriously as well,” she said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Ian Doyle urged officials to seek out any pollution reports the council may have undertaken. He said there is an “urgency” to make the report by the motorway planning team publicly available.