Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction in the number of crossings made on the Dartford Crossing during the covid-19 outbreak on air quality in the surrounding areas.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
Highways England continuously monitor air quality on the Dartford Crossing and operate two automatic air quality stations either side of the A282. Monitoring station ID51 is located next to the northbound carriageway and monitoring station ID52 is next to the southbound carriageway.
The measured monthly average nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations between January and August (covering the COVID-19 lockdown period) for 2019 and 2020 are provided in Table 1.
Table 1 Air Quality Monitoring Data
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | Average March to July | |
Site 51 NB | 2019 | 38.3 | 39.6 | 26.4 | 42.5 | 30.8 | 32.8 | 28.9 | 30.1 | 32.3 |
2020 | 21 | 13.6 | 16.7 | 20.2 | 25 | 24 | 18.6 | 30.7 | 20.9 | |
Site 52 SB | 2019 | 71.6 | 67.9 | 61.7 | 46.5 | 55.3 | 53.2 | 55.1 | 50.2 | 54.4 |
2020 | 58.1 | 51.8 | 43 | 32.7 | 35.3 | 38.4 | 42.4 | 42.7 | 38.4 | |
As shown in Table 1 the impact of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions has led to a reduction in measured NO2 concentrations between March and July 2020 (bold figures), which corresponds to a reduction in traffic flows between the same time period.
Sep. 08 2020
Source Page: Highways England annual report and accounts 2020Found: These activities, known as protocols, include collecting income on the Dartford River Crossing, and
Jul. 21 2020
Source Page: Annual assessment of Highways England’s performance: April 2019 to March 2020Found: Quality Unit (JAQU) to support the government™s air quality policies.
Sep. 17 2020
Source Page: DfT: Independent Complaints Assessor report for 2019 to 2020Found: The examiner would always ask before adjusting air-conditioning but had no recollection either way.
Jul. 22 2020
Source Page: Homes England RFI releases for June 2020Found: The three remaining breakers are all Reyrolle OBYR air blast circuit breakers.
Jul. 18 2019
Source Page: DfT: annual report and accounts 2018 to 2019Found: Guidance to 61 local authorities on clean air zones and plans.
Jul. 18 2019
Source Page: DfT: annual report and accounts 2018 to 2019Found: Government™s housing agenda, with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on air
Mar. 25 2019
Source Page: Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission reportFound: Ł Inner Estuary including Thurrock, Dartford and Gravesham Councils and the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation
Mar. 25 2019
Source Page: Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission reportFound: The area also suffers from poor air quality, particularly near congested river crossing points.
Mentions:
1: Priti Patel (CON - Witham) That is 2 billion miles more than in 1997, and if the unitary authorities of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea - Speech Link
2: Priti Patel (CON - Witham) The lower Thames crossing will provide a vital link connecting Essex and Kent. - Speech Link
3: James Duddridge (CON - Rochford and Southend East) That group included Essex, Southend, Thurrock, Rochford, Basildon, Castle Point, Brentwood, Chelmsford - Speech Link
4: Rachael Maskell (LAB - York Central) pollution, so we must address emissions seriously. - Speech Link
5: Jesse Norman (CON - Hereford and South Herefordshire) Friend rightly mentioned the lower Thames crossing. - Speech Link