THE head of an environmental campaign group in Wallingford wants immediate action to improve air quality.

Sustainable Wallingford’s Sue Roberts said she has suffered a nagging cough for the past year and believes the condition is linked to traffic pollution.

A report by South Oxfordshire District Council has put forward a ‘low emission strategy’ including the option of preventing some traffic from using Wallingford Bridge in a bid to improve air quality on the bridge and around the Lamb crossroads.

Dr Roberts said: “The illegally high toxic fumes in the High Street have prompted the district council to consider making the old bridge car-free.

“I and five of my Wallingford friends suffered from chronic coughs throughout 2015.

“This correlates with a large increase in car traffic, presumably from the many new houses that have been built, but probably also from the very low petrol price.”

A report to SODC by consultants Ricardo Energy & Environment says air pollution levels in Wallingford are 25 per cent above EU air quality limit values.

Dr Roberts said she was not certain if closing the bridge at specific times of day would solve the problem.

But she said she wanted the district council to treat the matter as urgent.

She added: “Toxic fumes in the High Street are at dangerously high levels.

“We need substantial changes to traffic flow in central Wallingford to protect its citizens from premature death.”

The report, which said access to the bridge could be banned at certain times of day to all traffic except buses, electric cars, or hybrid cars, is now before SODC.

Air quality levels at the crossroads break UK and European standards and SODC wants to cut nitrogen dioxide levels.

The section of the town near the bridge, around High Street, St Mary’s Street and Castle Street, was labelled an air quality management area in 2005.

Traffic is often forced to wait to cross the single-lane bridge, controlled by traffic lights.

Wallingford district councillor Elaine Hornsby said: “We know the air quality is poor in Wallingford and we will consult on the best way to resolve the problem.”

Town mayor Lynda Atkins does not think closing the bridge is the right solution.

SODC spokesman Gavin Walton said: “In February we will ask people to let us know what they think of a draft low emissions strategy. This includes possible actions to reduce traffic congestion in Wallingford.

“The problem in Wallingford is NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) from road traffic.”