Rookwood - Traffic and Noise Pollution

The Environment Agency has just published a new report: The state of the environment: health, people and the environment.

Its key findings are listed below and several relate directly to Rookwood:

• Air pollution is cited as the number one environmental threat to health in the UK

• Noise pollution is cited as the number two environmental threat to health in the UK

• The benefits of green space are emphasised

Rookwood Golf Course is hemmed in by the A24 and A264 dual carriageways, which will deliver long term doses of air and noise pollution to residents. The report findings starkly illustrate that Rookwood is a poor choice for any type of housing.

HDC should be protecting residents, not exposing them to harm. We wonder whether HDC is prepared for litigation from new Rookwood residents over health issues related to noise and air pollution?

The report’s fundamental finding is that opportunities lie in the choices made by government, regulators, business and individuals:

Building on Rookwood is a “choice” not a “requirement”

It may yield a short term cash benefit but it is the wrong choice when the land could generate health and well being benefits for Horsham’s children and residents for the next 100 years.

Environment Agency Report - Key Findings

• Air pollution is the single biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, shortening tens of thousands of lives each year

• After air pollution, noise causes the second highest pollution-related burden of disease in Europe, and is responsible for more life years lost than lead, ozone or dioxins

• There is emerging evidence of health effects from lower levels of pollution, although these are not currently well understood

• Antimicrobial resistant microbes are becoming more common in the environment due to contamination, meaning infectious illnesses may become harder to treat

• Mental health conditions are increasing - they are the largest single cause of disability in the UK, and can be caused or affected by pollution, flooding and climate change

• There is substantial and growing evidence for the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in the natural environment, but children are engaging less with nature

• Exposure to pollution, and access to the natural environment are not equally distributed across society - people living in deprived areas often have poorer quality environments with less accessible green space

• Equality of access to, and connection with, a healthy natural environment would save billions of pounds in healthcare costs and reduced economic activity every year

• There are opportunities to improve health through the choices government, regulators, businesses and individuals make