Member of the Senedd for Monmouth, Peter Fox, has welcomed reports that air quality in the town of Usk has improved again.
The most recent data showed the data for the town had improved for a tenth successive year and is monitored by Monmouthshire County Council’s environmental health team.
This year was the tenth year the level of nitrogen dioxide was below the annual level of 40mg per cubic metre, and the seventh year in the same period they were below the level of 36.
The local authority has said its aim for 2025/26 would be to remove the Air Quality Management Area from the town of Usk. A recent report presented to the council stated the levels are at a standard where the Welsh Government would advise a Management Area be revoked.
Local MS for Monmouth, Peter Fox, has said:
“I know how much of a concern the levels of pollution in Usk have been for several years, and the introduction of the Air Quality monitoring was both a welcomed and necessary step.
“Usk is a very busy town, and is often bustling with residents and tourists. It is also a commuter route with quick and easy access to the A449, so its not surprising we have seen in the past high levels of Nitrogen Dioxide.
“It is therefore excellent to hear there has been a tenth successive year of improvement, with the results seen consistently within the objectives.
“It has been suggested this could lead to the monitoring being removed all together, and I understand this is the aim of the local authority. Again this would be a welcome step and an example of the excellent progress that has been made in Usk.
“I am hopeful these levels will continue to improve, and as such, the lives of Usk residents and other users of the town will continue to improve.”
