Cheshunt residents can now sign up for a free notification service that provides updates on local air quality levels. The Broxbourne Borough Council is encouraging people to register for the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Air Pollution Alert System, which sends warnings directly to phones or email accounts before pollution reaches moderate, high, or very high levels.
The service is managed by the environmental consultancy Ricardo Energy & Environment. Every day at approximately 2pm, their forecasters issue a detailed assessment for the following day, allowing residents to plan their outdoor activities in advance. The system was first launched in 2019 through a partnership between 11 local authorities in the region.
This alert service is seen as particularly useful for those who may be more sensitive to changes in air quality, including children, pregnant women, older residents, and those living with respiratory conditions like asthma or bronchitis. Information about the initiative is also supported by Hertfordshire County Council as part of a wider effort to improve regional air quality.
Improving air quality remains a focus for the area, especially near the A10 corridor. In May 2017, an area encompassing the junction of Great Cambridge Road and College Road was declared an Air Quality Management Area due to concerns over nitrogen dioxide levels. Following a Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs ministerial direction in March 2018, the borough has been working on detailed action plans to address these roadside levels.
Residents interested in receiving these updates can manage their preferences through the Air Quality England website.
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