Barbara is calling on the Conservative-led Government to take stronger action to combat air pollution. Barbara’s call comes after a cross-party committee of MPs released a report showing that air pollution is causing a “public health crisis“.

The report by the Commons Environmental Audit Committee is the third report on the problems surrounding air pollution. It argues that much more needs to be done to reduce poor air quality and to minimise the health risks associated with this pollution. It estimates that around 29,000 deaths per year in the UK could be attributed to pollution man-made particulate matter (particularly from road traffic).

The report shows that the UK is failing to meet European targets for safe air pollution limits in most of the assessment zones in the UK and that our national Air Quality Strategy has not been renewed in seven years.

Barbara said:

“Poor air quality has a serious impact on people’s health in Salford. We have significant problems with air pollution in Worsley and Eccles South because of the high volumes of traffic and traffic congestion on the M60, the M62, the M602 and the local road network. We are also suffering extra congestion on the East Lancs Road due to congestion caused by the Busway road works. The current mortality figure for Salford attributable to air pollution is higher than the average for England and much higher than the figures for other parts of the country.”

“The Conservative-led Government has failed to take air pollution seriously and we need action now to reduce air pollution in Salford to protect people’s health. I join the authors of this report in calling on the Government to renew its Air Quality Strategy and find new ways of reducing the exposure of people in Salford to pollution and poor air quality.”