Air quality tests could be done for as little as 0.1% of the amount suggested by a government minister.

Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot MHK had quoted a figure of £50,000 to £100,000 to set up monitoring with the same figure needed each month to continue the work.

MHKs Ralph Peake and Bill Shimmins along with MLC Bill Henderson have paid for two sets of air quality tests to be conducted around Douglas, which the three said cost them ’in the region of £100’.

The tests - assisted by Friends of the Earth - show that despite Mr Boot telling Tynwald the island was ’well under EU limits’, the Quarterbridge topped the limit for nitrogen dioxide (40μg cubic metres) in December 2018 and was just 0.07 below that figure in January this year.

reply

In his reply to Mr Shimmins in Tynwald, Mr Boot recognised that the Quarterbridge and Lord Street in Douglas had the highest levels but assured members the two locations were below the EU limits.

In their joint letter, Mr Peake, Mr Shimmins and Mr Henderson said: ’We remain disappointed with your lack of action in this area.

’You have consistently refused to conduct more regular air quality monitoring beyond the current rate of once every two years. This is out of step with every other nation in Europe.

’Despite the concerns articulated by many members of Tynwald on various occasions you appear to be unable to grasp the serious public health damage caused by poor air quality.’

They also note that Jersey and Guernsey have implemented regular air quality testing, and both make daily levels available to the public online.

The letter continues: ’Despite your assertions that air quality is improving, this is not confirmed by the data for urban areas.

’Your letter to all Tynwald members of July 4, 2018 shows that the nitrogen dioxide levels at Lord Street increased from 35 in 2009 to 38 in 2018 and at the Quarterbridge from 18 to 26 over the same period.

’In these circumstances, we remained concerned about your approach. We also request that you adopt a more constructive approach when discussing this matter.

discourteous

’The statement that you made during the February sitting of Tynwald to Ann Corlett MHK (Douglas Central) was especially discourteous and dismissive.

’Members of Tynwald and the constituents they represent take this matter seriously.

They recognise the negative public health impacts that are caused by poor air quality.’

In reply, Mr Boot said the DEFA was currently considering its response.

He added: ’However, as I said in Tynwald last week, and in response to previous questions, continuous monitoring ceased because testing carried out over the preceding 12 years had not identified significant problems.

’In April 2018 DEFA undertook additional monitoring at five locations that had previously been monitored for nitrogen dioxide.

’The levels of nitrogen dioxide in all locations monitored this April were below the UK/EU target maximum and the results were broadly in line with the results of previous regular monitoring that ceased after 2009.

’This monitoring did not suggest that air quality had deteriorated overall since regular monitoring ceased and on this basis it was determined that there was no justification for continuous monitoring.

’I have committed the department to undertaking a similar "snapshot" sampling once every two years, in order that any significant change may be detected.

’The decision in 2009 to reduce monitoring was not a decision to ignore air quality issues. Rather than monitoring specific air quality government is focussed on pro-actively reducing emissions.

Emissions

’The government has introduced a mitigation strategy, and a number of the actions contained within the first five-year action plan associated with the strategy are specifically included to reduce emissions from vehicles and stimulate the uptake of electric vehicles.’