A scientist has warned that "dangerous dust" from a major housing development near the M4 could put people's health at risk.
Dr Semeena Shamsudheen, an air pollution expert at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, raised concerns at a Wokingham Borough Council meeting on March 26 about plans for nearly 4,000 homes at Loddon Garden Village near Shinfield. University of Reading research has already described the site as environmentally sensitive land.
She asked: "What independent, publicly available evidence demonstrates that building here will not... create increased health risks from PM pollution caused by construction activity?"
Dr Shamsudheen warned there is not enough monitoring of dust from building work - cutting materials, mixing cement, plastering and digging - and highlighted the danger from PM2.5. These tiny particles can linger in the air, be breathed in, travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.
She also challenged the practicality of current plans: "I have seen the mitigation measures that you have taken on the website. I'm sorry to say that, in my expertise, these mitigations are not going to be very practical because they are all based on historical data." She added: "I would like to know whether you have proof that the future should be based on impact modelling with future climate impact scenarios."
Council leader Stephen Conway said the plans include checks to limit environmental damage: "The submitted applications include a full environmental impact assessment alongside a series of additional technical studies designed to minimise the development's environmental impact." He said: "The application is currently under review by our specialist officers. Construction related impacts such as dust will be managed through a construction environmental management plan." He thanked Dr Shamsudheen for her "very informed" question.
In a separate statement Conway accepted construction "does usually cause disruption" and said measures such as damping down dust are used. He said Dr Shamsudheen was "completely right to raise concerns" and the council would follow "the latest scientific guidance" and impose conditions to limit health risks, flooding and air pollution as the plans progress.
He said: "We're not at the end of this development - we're right at the beginning. It will take many many months before there can be a recommendation of approval."
"Much of the work that we will be doing will be to ensure that any development avoids both flood risk and risk of particulates."
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
