A BANBURY street is Cherwell district’s first official pollution hotspot.

Hennef Way, one of the main routes into the town, is Cherwell District Council’s first ‘air quality management area’.

It will be closely monitored over the coming year – and council chiefs have pledged action if pollution levels remain unacceptably high.

Higher fences could be put up around homes and more trees planted to produce oxygen, improving air quality, said George Reynolds, council cabinet environment, recreation and health.

Yet he ruled out curbing traffic.

He said: “What we have to do is to try and work out how best to get those levels to drop or prevent levels affecting residents.

“As far as I’m aware, that is the only realistic way to try and cut the amount of traffic.

“At the present moment that’s unrealistic.”

Hennef Way has 76 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide, NO2, per metre cubed – almost double the national average of 40 and more than treble Cherwell’s average of 15-19.

Town and district councillor Ann Bonner, whose ward covers the area, said: “It’s important this is monitored, and important checks are kept on this, and we will be studying the reports of the monitoring and whatever needs to be done will be done.”

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Public health is a priority for the Government. Current estimates are that the average life expectancy is six months lower because of air pollution, which is why the Government has put measures in place and strict targets.

“Air quality needs to be taken into account in all decisions councils make including major transport and land use planning decisions and the government will work with local councils to ensure this is facilitated.”

The council will also monitor surrounding streets including Stroud Close, Fisher Close, Grimsbury Green, Deans Close and Meads Lane Farm Lane.

l Several other sites across the county have also been declared Air Quality Management Areas.

They are: Green Road roundabout, Oxford and the city centre, Chipping Norton, Witney, Henley, Wallingford and Watlington, Abingdon and Botley.