Portsmouth councillor says air quality is the 'biggest threat' to public health in the city

Ahead of its environment and climate change meeting next week, the council has released the Annual Air Quality report, using data from 2019.

The figures show that nitrogen dioxide levels are still higher than government limits, especially in London Road, Eastern Road, Commercial Road and Fratton Road, among others.

Cllr Dave Ashmore, cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: ‘I am very concerned by the continuing high levels of NO2 – this is the biggest environmental threat to public health.

‘We must all take action to make the air we breathe cleaner for our health.’

The government has called upon Portsmouth to create a clean air zone – for which a consultation will be launched tomorrow.

Cllr Ashmore added: ‘We believe funding from government could be used in better ways to improve air quality, including scrappage schemes for polluting cars, improving cycling networks and subsidising bus travel.

‘However, government has told us to implement a zone and we want to make sure we do this in the best way possible for our city by giving everyone the opportunity to have their say in the consultation.’

It is unknown how much the coronavirus pandemic has affected air quality in the city.

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