SEVERAL polluted parts of the city were still close to breaching ‘safe’ government air quality targets last year despite a drop in traffic during the Covid lockdown.

The latest monitoring data for pollution hotspots around Worcester show congestion-heavy areas such as The Butts, The Tything and Foregate Street were still recording high levels of toxic nitrogen dioxide and in some cases more than double what is considered safe.

Average readings must be below 40 microgrammes of nitrogen dioxide per cubic metre to meet government air quality targets, while the World Health Organisation guidelines set this as a safe limit to protect public health.

Whilst not one part of the city recorded an average figure above the government’s air quality target of 40 microgrammes in 2020, it was largely thanks to a huge reduction in traffic because of national lockdowns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

The highest average nitrogen dioxide reading in the city in 2020 was in The Butts at 35.9, closely followed by Bridge Street at 35.6 microgrammes.

The average yearly reading for Lowesmoor was 31.8 which was the third highest for the city with the average reading in both Astwood Road and Upper Tything standing at 31.3 microgrammes.

Monitoring data for pollution across the city for the first six months of the year was not included because of Covid and a change in the council’s supplier.

Raw figures for January and February 2020, which have not been used in the report, show dozens of areas of the city that have traditionally high levels of pollution such as The Butts, The Tything, Astwood Road and Bridge Street as well as London Road and Foregate Street as recording levels way above the 40-microgram target.

Monthly figures from July onwards also show higher and higher readings as some locations breached the 40-microgram target as early as August and dozens more followed in September. The average reading in The Butts in September was 86.3 mg3 – more than double the ‘safe’ limit.

In 2019, three areas in the city had dangerous levels of pollution with a further nine very close to breaching government air quality targets.