A NUMBER of concerned and angry residents from Camelford have created a Clean Air Group, aiming to tackle the ‘terrible’ issue involving traffic flow, air and noise pollution coming through the town.

Following a post on the ‘Love Camelford’ Facebook group, with local resident Debbie Balaam highlighting her concerns over the traffic in Camelford, town councillor Claire Hewlett decided that a group should be created to productively come up with a solution for the problem.

Debbie highlighted the need for a speed sign, and said in her Facebook post: “I think it’s absolutely disgusting that the residents of our lovely town have to put up with it.

“Does someone have to get killed before one can be erected? Whoever on earth thought Camelford was a suitable diversion for such heavy traffic has no thought for its residents’ health and wellbeing; it makes me sick how we get treated — shame on you whoever you are.”

Cllr Hewlett responded to the post, saying: “If we’re discussing this, let’s not turn it into a pointless echo chamber of complaints. Solutions is what we need, not an unachievable wish list!”

Therefore, the locals responding to the post on Facebook, Cllr Hewlett and town mayor, Cllr Rob Rotchell, decided to arrange a meeting for a new Clean Air Group to take place, discussing the issues surrounding the traffic in Camelford and trying to come up with a solution for it.

On the evening of Wednesday, September 14, the Clean Air Group’s first meeting took place at the Old Bank in Camelford, with nearly a dozen residents attending to voice their concerns.

Cllr Rotchell opened the session with a background of the air quality in Camelford. He said: “Everyone knows the traffic in the town is bad; we know it’s terrible and we’ve got to do something about it.”

The air quality in the town has been monitored since 2010, with levels of N02 recorded to compare how they differ from what the EU regulations require. Levels below 40 ug are considered safe; levels that reach 40 ug are concerning and when levels reach 60 ug, it is considered a serious risk. In 2014, Camelford reached 62.1 ug, immediately requiring a management plan to be put in place.

A public consultation process is due to take place, starting from October 3 until November 28. Now, local people are being urged to join the Clean Air Group and get involved in campaigning for a cleaner and safer Camelford.

Cllr Hewlett told the group: “Twenty people responding isn’t going to cut it. We need an overwhelming response. We want reviews and feedback from local people to offer solutions, and then we’ll have to come up with an action plan to come up with those solutions. We don’t wish to be ignored any longer.”

One of the main issues which was highlighted at the meeting was the number of diesel trucks and lorries that pass through the town, thought to create a lot of air pollution, as well as the need for a bypass, alternative routes and a better layout system for the town’s traffic lights.

One resident said: “There seems to be a lot of negativity about this. But if we don’t start battling, we’re not going to get anything from this.”

Cllr Rotchell added: “I can’t imagine anyone in Camelford who doesn’t think that this is a major problem.”

One resident asked why the town has not got a camera or police monitoring system in place, and that the traffic going through Piper’s Pool is managed sufficiently due to their use of this.

The members of the group then decided that members would have to be allocated a role to play in the process of getting friends, neighbours and other residents on board, with the idea of knocking on doors to deliver information leaflets, visiting local schools and Enfield Park to speak to parents and passers-by, and even going as far as Otterham and Tintagel, with residents from these areas often sitting through the traffic in Camelford to get to and from work.

With more houses on the way, Cllr Rotchell urged the group that this is the time to act. He said: “There’s never such a thing as too many people being involved — we need to be a bit more dramatic, maybe.

“We need to get the word out — this is about the quality of our lives in Camelford and is a God given opportunity to make a big difference.”

Another resident stressed that people don’t want to come to the town anymore due to the lack of banks and breathing in the fumes, and Cllr Rotchell added that if the town’s library closes, that will be another reason not to visit Camelford.

Members of the new Clean Air Group are now planning to visit residents in Camelford to deliver leaflets and give some information on the town’s situation, as well as standing in school playgrounds to carry out surveys, all in the aim of getting more people involved in their campaign. Out of the 3,000 residents living in the town, it is hoped that at least two thirds will respond.

On carnival night (October 29), the Clean Air Group will be offering information at the Old Bank, and at Camelford Hall on November 9 from 3pm to 7pm.

In the meantime, locals are being encouraged to write to Scott Mann MP.

Their next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 5 in the Old Bank, with the hope that yet more residents will be attending.