ECC Cllr John Lodge: Letter to the Editor….

A preview of this week’s letter from Uttlesford resident’s ECC representative….

Dear Sir,
With the demise of the UDC Plan on 4th December, a crucial announcement went largely un-noticed. The Environmental Audit Committee said that air pollution is a ‘public health crisis’ causing nearly as many deaths as smoking and that existing schools next to busy roads should also be fitted with air filtration systems. Building new schools, hospitals and care homes next to air pollution hotspots should be made illegal to help reduce the tens of thousands of deaths caused by particulate pollution every year. Committee chair, Joan Walley MP, said that it is unacceptable that another generation of young people could have their health impaired by illegal air pollution. We have long been warning UDC in their planning deliberations that developments to the east of Saffron Walden would make the currently illegal air pollution even worse; they have consistently ignored us. But even in the final days of its Plan, UDC produced a hastily cobbled together plan for an eastern link road which led that road right past the front door of the proposed new primary school! Fortunately with on-going input from Residents a new regime in Council Offices will now build a New Plan which protects future health for all.

If you would like to discuss this or any other topic please see me at my surgery this coming Saturday (20th December) at the Walden in Transition Community Café in the Town Hall between 10 30 and Noon.
Yours faithfully

John Lodge