TRAFFIC restrictions to cut air pollution in Wallingford could be back on the cards six years after they were first proposed.

South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) has to cut pollution to meet European Union guidelines.

Wallingford, Watlington and Henley are all too polluted, with council measurements exceeding European limits, so SODC has decided to create a district-wide air quality action plan.

The council has been monitoring the problem for 16 years because high levels of the irritant gas nitrogen dioxide can worsen respiratory diseases such as asthma.

District councillor for Wallingford Mark Gray said the worse site in Wallingford was the crossroads by the George Hotel in High Street.

He said: “You would think that in a country town like Wallingford the air would be fine but it is because the buildings are so close together. There is a need to try to keep traffic out of there.”

The council will reveal its plans to tackle pollution with the launch of a district-wide public consultation on June 2.

The plan will be available online at southoxon.gov.uk/airquality.

District councillor Pat Dawe said: “Certainly in High Street it would be nice if they could reduce the traffic but you’re not going to get that.”

The council first identified the need to tackle the problem in 2008, and launched a public consultation on traffic restrictions for the town.

Residents will be invited to tell the council what they think of the new plans at a drop-in session at the SODC council office on June 9 from 6pm to 8pm.

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