8th February, 2001

PIONEERING UNIVERSITY RESEARCH REVEALS IMPACT OF NEWBURY BYPASS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

A three-year study by researchers from the University of Surrey, led by Dr Neil Ward, has revealed that although pollution from the Newbury Bypass in Berkshire has been minimised due to an effective design and higher construction standards, ongoing monitoring and maintenance is crucial in order to protect the environment.

The nine-mile bypass, opened in late 1998, has benefited from the installation of eight new balancing ponds which act as a filter mechanism for pollutants such as oil, road surface particles and heavy metals that are found in road water run-off. However due to recent storms there is concern that the polluted sediment deposited in the ponds may be released into the Rivers Kennet and River Lambourn unless a strategy is found to deal with the disposal of the accumulated sediment. Also many of the reeds planted in the ponds have been flattened in the storms and therefore may not be working effectively to remove heavy metal contaminants.

Said Dr Ward: "There really needs to be a maintenance programme for these ponds and additional funding so our researchers can continue the monitoring process. Also the level of contamination discovered in the ponds would suggest that existing roads in the UK could be polluting their immediate areas due to road water run-off".

Dr Ward explained that the University of Surrey now has one of the largest databases in the world concerning the scientific monitoring of pollution from a new bypass and is unique in having data before the commencement of any construction work. The scientific study involved the collection of some 8,000 samples which provided over 80,000 chemical data values.

The database reveals that the old A34 still has the same levels of pollutants despite traffic now being routed onto the new A34 Newbury Bypass. Dr Ward said: "It is important to realise that this type of pollution won't disappear overnight and there needs to be a strategy for dealing with it".

The University of Surrey study was unique in that the research was commissioned and funded by local people, businesses and environmental groups coming together in partnership because of shared concerns. The Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust in association with Newbury's Campaign of Businesses for Environmental Protection (CAMBUS) sponsored the research.

The Newbury Bypass is one of the country's most controversial bypasses as it was built through sensitive wildlife-rich areas, among them the internationally important River Kennet, one of Britain's finest chalk rivers, and the River Lambourn, both designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

A team of 12 University of Surrey undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Department of Chemistry worked on the project with Dr Robert Hares, a former PhD student, acting as the research co-ordinator under the direction of Dr Neil Ward.

Media Enquiries
Dr Neil Ward, tel. 01483 879303
email N.Ward@surrey.ac.uk

or

Jacqui Spiers, University Press Office
tel. 01483 879314
email press-office@surrey.ac.uk

Note to Editors
The Newbury project will serve as a good case study for determining the viability, location, form and method of construction of any future road bypass. Dr Ward has recently been approached by members of local authorities and the general public from various towns in the south of England who are concerned about proposed bypasses in their areas.