As the battle over Boots Corner continues Cheltenham's Conservatives have seized upon local authority figures they say show an increase in pollution in the town.

Taking data from the Liberal Democrat-run council's own findings opposition councillors have launched yet another attack on the scheme, which bans regular traffic through the notorious High Street intersection.

According to the Conservatives' press release air quality and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution has "significantly worsened" across areas of the town as a result of the on-going consultation.

The Fairview neighbourhood, for example, has seen a 40 per cent increase in harmful particulates since the scheme started.

Fairview joins other key pollution hotspots on the London Road, High St, Swindon Road, Gloucester Road and Princess Elizabeth Way registering "dangerously high levels of air pollution", says the release.

Cllr Tim Harman (Con, Park), who presented a 5,200 strong petition to Cheltenham Borough Council on Monday (December 10) calling for an end to the scheme, said: "One of the key arguments presented by Cheltenham Borough Council's ruling administration for closing Boots Corner was that it would improve air quality. Their own figures now prove that isn't the case.

"Following our insistence, the council has been taking additional measurements in new sites across the town. These figures reveal a worrying and rapid growth in NO2 pollution at these hotspots.

"Closing Boots Corner seems to have moved pollution from where people shop and work to where they live, sleep and attend school.

"The closure of Boots Corner is already opposed by local businesses, residents' groups and local communities. It's doubling some journey times, causing flash queues in narrow neighbourhood streets and driving shoppers and visitors out of the town centre.

"Cheltenham Council's position on air quality has been discredited by their very own figures. It's about time they pulled their heads out of the sand. They need to pull the plug on this hugely unpopular and damaging scheme before residents' health is damaged even more."

Mike Redman, director for environment at Cheltenham Borough Council said: "Air quality is a significant health issue and it is recognised that current pollution levels in the UK are having a significant impact on the health of the nation. However, in a local context, it is premature to draw any specific conclusions about air quality impacts arising from the closure of Boots' Corner.

"The Council is collecting data from additional monitoring points, but as with any data, it is really important to understand the context of the results.

"The October air quality results are not unusual for this time of year, because the colder temperatures contribute to higher levels of pollution and there are invariably more cars on the roads. It is not unusual for there to be a 40 per cent difference between a mid-summer level and an autumn / winter level.

"We would urge caution in drawing any firm conclusions at this stage about the impact of traffic changes brought about through the Cheltenham Transport Plan."

Annual monitoring results for Cheltenham have never shown to have exceeded the one hour limit for Nitrogen Dioxide, which can be exceeded up to 18 times a year before it breaches statutory standards, or the 24 hour limit for Particulate Matter PM10, which can be exceeded up to 35 times a year according to statutory limits, at any location in Cheltenham.

Air quality monitoring briefing - October 2018