Air pollution is not confined to the bigger towns but is having its effect in Marlborough, where nitrogen dioxide street levels are being continuously monitored by Wiltshire Council, on behalf of DEFRA.
And the latest information available to the public, which was collected last year, reveals that nitrogen dioxide levels in Herd Street regularly exceed safety limits – with the need for warning signs to be erected.
The demand for action has come from Dr Sam Page, of Transition Marlborough, who reveals that the Herd Street statistics of 40 µg/m3 are regularly exceed and that, at certain times of the year, the amount of nitrogen dioxide in Herd Street is more than 60 µg/m3.
“This is considered to be a dangerous level, particularly for children and anyone who has lung disease,” Dr Page told Marlborough News Online.
“It is said to have got worse since the installation of the new pedestrian crossing, half-way up Herd Street, which causes lines of vehicles to idle and rev their engines, for more extensive periods.
“This type of air pollution causes 29,000 early deaths a year across the UK and the World Health Organisation has confirmed that air pollution causes cancer.
“Poor air quality also causes heart attacks and children living near busy roads in the UK have been shown to grow up with underdeveloped lungs. It is also poses an extreme health hazard for cyclists.”
And she adds: “Although Marlborough Town Council is well aware of the serious health risk to anyone who regularly breathes the air along Herd Street, little has been done to address this problem, apart from trying to persuade truck drivers to use a different route.
“Perhaps the council can persuade Wiltshire Council to introduce a low emissions zone and make random checks on the exhaust emissions from diesel vehicles that use this street.
“In the meantime, warning signs should be posted along Herd Street to discourage children and anyone with lung disease from walking or cycling along it.”