The problem of air quality in Totton town centre was raised once again in the council chamber at Totton Civic Centre tonight, (18th June).

Other Council members must be getting really bored by my efforts to inject a sense of greater urgency in tackling the issue of poor air quality, arising from traffic emissions in Junction Road, Rumbridge Street and The High Street.

I expressed my extreme frustration that so little has been done to address the problem since the area was designated an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), nearly three years ago. In fact, what has happened is that the area has got bigger, as it now embraces The High Street and part of Eling Lane.

At the last full council meeting I tried to provoke a strong response, only part “tongue in cheek”, by suggesting that the train gates in Junction Road may need to be permanently closed to through traffic. As I understand it, this option is still a possibility but would clearly be unpopular with many people who want to continue driving through the area.

It seems fairly obvious that the air quality problem won’t go away. For the sake of the people who live in this area, action needs to be taken without further delays. The New Forest District Council has prepared a detailed action plan with a lot of different proposals aimed at reducing the pollution problem. We just need to make sure that the fine words turn into action!