CAMELFORD residents have responded to recent news that their town is now an Air Quality Management Area, with many being concerned about the town’s future, writes Rosie Cripps.

Traffic pollution and the amount of traffic on the town’s roads have been a topic of discussion for years. In December 2004, it was agreed by the authorities that a bypass would be built. However, this was never delivered due to an issue with money, much to the disappointment of some residents in the town.

Air quality has been monitored in Camelford since 2010, ensuring the air met the regulations under the EU. If the air is below 40ug/m3, that is considered a safe environment; when the air reaches 40ug/m3, it is a cause for concern; and when the air reaches 60ug/m3, it is considered a serious risk.

Recently, it has been discovered that Camelford’s air quality reached 62.1ug/m3, meaning the town, along with six other towns in Cornwall, was announced as an Air Quality Management Area by Cornwall Council this year.

The Post got in touch with Camelford residents via the ‘Love Camelford’ Facebook page, encouraging them to voice their thoughts, concerns and ideas for the future.

One lady, a member of the recently founded Camelford Clean Air Group, taking action to come up with a plan to improve the air quality in the town, was concerned that many local people were unaware of the consultation.

As part of the consultation process, members of the Clean Air Group knocked on doors around the town to deliver Cornwall Council questionnaires and speak to residents.

However, it transpired that not many people even knew that the town was an Air Quality Management Area.

The lady, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Post: “In fact, all of the people I spoke to were adamant that something urgently needed doing — completely fed up about the traffic — and I was astonished to learn of the accidents that have been happening on the road.”

The group was supplied with 100 leaflets by Cornwall Council, which was added to by photocopies from the town council.

She added: “In relation to the road problem, as it is holiday time, the traffic, again, is continuous; the fumes are still very bad when walking from one end of the town to the other.”

Peter Guesford, another member of the Camelford Clean Air Group has created his own petition on Change.org, titled ‘Reduce the Pollution in Camelford’.

The petition, states: “We need as much help as we can get to have the bypass built to protect our health, our children’s health, the environment and our homes. We have several historic buildings in the town and the vibration from commercial vehicles is causing damage.”

Before Saturday’s Camelford carnival, town councillor Claire Hewlett, one of the founding members of the Camelford Clean Air Group, reported that Cornwall Council had delivered materials for carnival night, along with 40 more leaflets.

During carnival night, the Clean Air Group was on hand to answer questions and tell residents about the Air Quality Management Area scheme, as well as what it might mean for Camelford in the future, with hopes that it would get more people on board with their campaign.

Taking place in the Old Bank in the centre of town, the group handed out questionnaires to gain more responses as part of the consultation process, as well as speaking to residents about how the situation could be improved.

Cllr Hewlett told the Post: “Saturday night went well. I’d have to say that there’s a lot of interest, but not much hope.”

A further 30 residents completed questionnaires, adding to the 65 responses to the online petition and the yet-to-be-counted written responses, following the group’s visits to various homes in the town.

Cllr Hewlett added: “People completed the questionnaire, but no one really expects Cornwall Council to actually come up with any money to solve the problems. The typical response was along the lines of North Cornwall and Camelford have been overlooked for so long — why will this be any different?

“I entirely understand this point of view, but am trying to remain optimistic.”

Cornwall Council’s consultation process will come to an end on Monday, November 28.

The Camelford Clean Air Group held a meeting last night (Wednesday) to consolidate their findings and decide what to do next, prior to Cornwall Council’s drop-in event in Camelford Hall on Wednesday, November 9.

For more information on Air Quality Management Areas, visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/airquality.

To sign Mr Guesford’s petition by visiting www.change.org/p/cornwall-council-reduce-the-pollution-in-camelford