A Green councillor has rejected the recommendations of the county's Air Pollution Task Group, saying they do not go far enough.

Yesterday Gloucestershire County Council's environment scrutiny committee voted 7-1 to recommend the Air Pollution Task Group report to the county council cabinet.

But Cllr Rachel Smith (Green, Minchinhampton) called for stronger measures to address air quality. 

Cllr Smith rejected the final recommendations of the group as too limited, noting that they ignore key evidence presented to the group that shows we need to rethink transport infrastructure investment, rather than tinker at the edges.

Cllr Smith said evidence presented to the task group shows the most effective, and cost effective, methods to address air quality involve:

• Smoothing traffic flows through speed reductions
• Separate cycle routes from motor traffic, and reducing the time spent by cyclists in areas of high pollution
• Provide a choice of cycle routes including routes avoiding highly polluted roads

Cllr Smith says that by contrast, bypass construction, and ad-hoc traffic schemes are shown to be neither effective, nor cost-effective, in reducing air pollution. Yet Conservative-controlled Gloucestershire County Council continues to pursue a road-widening and road-building agenda.

Commenting on her decision not to support the Air Pollution Task Group report, Cllr Smith said: "Nobody wants to breathe filthy air which is why I wanted ambitious actions included in this report.

"Whilst there are a number of good recommendations in this report, it ultimately does not go far enough. The task group had the opportunity to set clear targets, providing an ambitious agenda, and following the evidence.

"However, this report leaves the door open to road-building schemes that will increase, not address air pollution, and lacks targets by which its impact could be measured."

The cabinet will consider the recommendations on Wednesday, June 6.

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