Diesel engines, especially the large ones that power the buses around here do emit plenty of noxious emissions including particulates and nitrogen dioxide, and when left running in a confined location those toxic emissions build up and become a health risk. Transition Marlborough have been campaigning for the past two years for a ‘No Idling’ sign to be erected outside Lloyds Bank in the High Street and on Monday, 17 September, held a ‘No Idling flash-mob’ action to highlight this problem.
Marlborough has long been recognised as being one of Wiltshire’s ‘HotSpots’ for Air Quality. There is a direct link at the top of this page to the London Road air quality monitoring site, but this location, just by the Bridge Garage filling station is in clear air and monitors the air quality produced by the passing traffic. The town’s main bus stop – outside Lloyds Bank in the High Street is quite different as it is relatively enclosed and fumes, particulates and all the other unpleasant and potentially hazardous emission products can build up underneath the canopy and with one or more stationary buses spewing out fumes the levels can get quite pernicious. But there is no monitoring system for this location, just the experiences of everyone congregating outside the Bank waiting for their bus.
The issue was first rsised raised at a ‘CATG’ (Community Area Transport Group – a subsidiary of the local Community Area Board) in June 2016. The Town Council was in support of signs being erected to remind bus drivers to turn their engines off. It was agreed that it ‘was easy to achieve’ and that this proposal would be referred to officers in Wiltshire’s Passenger Transport Unit and for the The Highways Engineer to investigate and provide cost estimates for following meeting, but little has happened since. Hence the Transition ‘flash mob’ action.
“School children and other vulnerable people are particularly at risk while waiting at the Lloyds Bank bus stop, where there are often three buses idling their diesel engines at the same time. The toxic exhaust emissions are directed directly towards the waiting passengers, where they are trapped and build up under the overhang.” said Dr Sam Page from Transition Marlborough.
“Some bus drivers refuse to switch off their engines, even when politely asked to do so. If there was an official No Idling sign at the bus stop it would remind drivers to switch of their engines while waiting and could be referred to by a passing traffic warden, police officer or members of the public, in cases where a driver is not co-operating.” she added, pointing out that Transition Marlborough had sent requests to Salisbury Reds, National Express, Swindon Bus Company, Stagecaoch West and Barnes Coaches, to ask their drivers to switch off their engines while waiting at bus stops in the High Street.
In many other UK towns and cities buses are able to switch to an electric mode when slowing down, approaching and leaving a bus stop, thereby eliminating toxic emissions completely, but that isn’t an option in this area.
“It’s deeply concerning that Wiltshire Councillors are dragging their feet when it comes to implementing simple and comparatively low-cost measures that would improve air quality in Marlborough.” Added Dr Page.
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