Press release: You must be choking – residents highlight air pollution threat of Queensway Gateway road

July 27, 2015 by combehavendefenders

Press release

27 July 2015
Combe Haven Defenders [1]

More info: 07565 967 250

Picture available: http://tinyurl.com/nwe9ey4

YOU MUST BE CHOKING! RESIDENTS HIGHLIGHT AIR POLLUTION THREAT OF QUEENSWAY GATEWAY ROAD
Proposed road would breach national and EU directives on air quality

Dozens of local residents turned out in heavy rain on Sunday 26 July to highlight the air pollution which would be caused if the Queensway Gateway road (QGR) in Hastings were allowed to go ahead.

Wearing masks and carrying placards saying ‘You Must Be Choking: No Queensway Gateway Road’ people gathered on Sedlescombe Road North in St Leonards (the A21), site of some of the worst predicted pollution.

Planning permission for the £15m QGR was revoked after a local resident challenged the decision at the High Court. Hastings Council accepted that it had made an error of law in granting the permission, which should have been refused because the road would breach national and EU directives on air pollution [2].

However, road developer SeaChange Sussex pressed ahead with treefelling operations [3], leading to concerns that planning permission would once again be granted, despite the failure to deal with the issue of air pollution.

Combe Haven Defenders spokesperson Andrea Needham said, ‘This event highlights the very serious issue of air pollution which would be caused if this road were to go ahead. SeaChange’s own figures show that the road, if built, would be in breach of national and EU law on air pollution. In addition, it would completely destroy Hollington Valley local wildlife site, at a time in history when we are seeing dramatic species decline as a result of habitat loss. We need to value and preserve our green spaces, rather than covering them in concrete as Hastings council wants to do.’

More info: 07565 967 250

NOTES
[1] www.combehavendefenders.org.uk

[2] https://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/4543/

[3] https://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/2015/07/08/4647/