DUNFERMLINE’S Appin Crescent has the worst air pollution in Fife, according to a new report.

Friends of the Earth Scotland identified a total of 38 pollution zones in Scotland with Appin Crescent showing the highest pollution levels in the Kingdom.

Mid Scotland and Fife Greens MSP Mark Ruskell has now called for action from the Scottish government.

In parliament last week, he demanded steps were taken to deal with the issue which, he says, causes 2,500 deaths in Scotland each year.

“We have known that Appin Crescent has got very high pollution levels for some time,” he said.

“The issue that I pushed the minister on was to make something available for what are low emission zones which exist in London and other cities and enables them to invest.

“We also need sustained investment in walking, cycling and public transport.”

Mr Ruskell said the issue was “nothing short” of a public health crisis.
“We know that for people living in air quality management areas, breathing in polluted air is a fact of life,” he said.

“The response from the Environment Secretary today was to say it’s up to local authorities to come forward for help but we need to see government being proactive rather than creating competition for limited funds.”

Central Dunfermline Community Council chairman Jim Stewart said the issue was an ongoing concern for local residents.

“The monitor has been there for a number of years and the measurements over the past five years has flatlined. It hasn’t been increasing, however, it is still around the illegal level,” he explained. 

“They looked at changing the traffic lights to change the traffic flow and looked at public transport and essentially these things are managing it but it doesn’t make a huge difference.”

As an Appin Crescent bypass looks unlikely anytime soon, Mr Stewart said the issue was unlikely to go away.

“In the local plan, there’s a road which goes from Townhill to Halbeath and a couple of roads in new development areas but there will still be increased volumes of traffic due to extra population using Appin Crescent,” he added.

“There are various things in the reports which say there is an increased risk of dementia and a whole section of health risks around increased pollution and that is not good for the Appin Crescent locals.”

A Scottish government spokesman said they were determined to improve air quality and were working to ensure Scotland’s first low emission zone was in place by next year.

“The government is liaising closely with local authorities and other partners to meet this timetable,” added the spokesperson.

A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said they were investing more than £1 billion per year in public and sustainable transport.

“We have increased investment in active travel by over 80 per cent compared to 2013-14 and have pledged to match record levels of investment over the life of this Parliament,” the spokesperson said. 

“The national indicator for public and active travel to work is at its highest level in 15 years. 

“Furthermore, the Forth Road Bridge will be retained to complete a dedicated public transport corridor which will improve bus journey times and also provide a much-improved, largely traffic-free environment for cyclists and walkers across the Forth when the Queensferry Crossing opens to traffic later this year.”