Traffic is back at pre-pandemic levels and pollution is three-to-four-times World Health Organisation guidelines, according to local climate campaigners.

John Booth from Reading Friends of the Earth raised concerns at a Reading council meeting last week that NO2 concentrations in Reading are likely to up to four times the WHO air quality recommendations.

The concerns were raised at Reading Borough Council’s Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport committee on Tuesday, November 16.

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Replying, councillor Tony Page, RBC’s lead member for Environment, said: “The new WHO guidance levels are a sobering reminder that air pollution causes a health impact on us all, especially the vulnerable, at much lower levels than everyone used to think.

“It shows that we must continue to work to reduce air pollution levels beyond the current target values, to ensure that the burden on the cardio-respiratory health of the residents of Reading is minimised as much as possible.”

In 2017, Reading Friends of the Earth submitted a 400-signature petition calling for action so that Reading’s air quality would meet World Health Organisation guidelines.

Those guidelines were substantially tightened in September and in some places in town pollutant concentrations are around three or four times the new guidelines, which Reading Friends of the Earth says are “not safe limits” themselves.

Dangerous microparticles three times recommended maximum

Mr Booth also pointed out that PM2.5 microparticle levels on Caversham Road are more than three times WHO’s recommended maximum.

Cllr Page said most of the UK is above the recommended maximum levels for PM2.5 and there are limitations as to what RBC can achieve when trying to reduce this pollutant as it is a transborder pollutant.

Approximately a third of PM2.5 pollution comes from Europe and around 15 per cent from naturally occurring sources, Cllr Page said.

PM2.5 pollutants are responsible for 5.6 per cent of deaths in Reading, he added, and said the council is working to reduce local sources such as solid fuel burning and vehicle emissions, including tyre and brake wear as well as tail pipe emissions.

He said the council has also applied for funding for sensors to monitor PM2.5 levels.

But Mr Booth said local emissions alone seemed equivalent to the WHO guidelines in some places.

The WHO says exposure to PM2.5 can cause diseases to our cardiovascular and respiratory system, provoking, for example, stroke, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Plans to reduce pollution

Mr Booth also asked when the council would reconsider introducing toll charges on the two road bridges over the Thames to reduce through-traffic.

Cllr Page said the council is still assessing travel behaviours post-pandemic, continues to actively engage with neighbouring authorities to agree the next steps for reducing River Thames crossing congestion and remains determined to work on plans to deter these journeys.

Plans for a clean air zone in Reading were scrapped after investigations found there would be “limited environmental and financial benefits”.

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Cllr Page added at the meeting that a clean air zone in Reading is currently not possible as it is “too expensive”, with all other councils introducing a clean air zone having received external funding.

He said road user charging would have to be brought in to fill a financial black hole left as cars go electric in the coming years.