THANKS for your front-page story about pollution in Oxford (Oxford Mail, October 7). Nothing is more important than people in Oxford being able to breathe clean air.

The good news is that pollution across Oxford has been steadily falling for more than 10 years and is well within safe levels. The bad news is that there are some worryingly high levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate hotspots, especially in the city centre, as your story points put.

Oxford City Council has scores of measuring points right across Oxford to check for dirty air. Readers can follow this link and can look on Oxford Airwatch to see the latest data.

Oxford’s Low Emission Zone has made sure the bus companies clean up their act. All buses going through Oxford must have at least Euro 5 emission levels.

The problem is that in some streets – St Aldate’s, St Clement’s and High Street – there are lots of buses and each one still emits some pollution.

Oxford City Council will publish its annual Air Quality Report before Christmas. Based on the detailed results of that study we will press for whatever needs to be done to tackle the pollution hotspots. We are determined to see nitrogen dioxide levels well below the legal maximum.

CLLR JOHN TANNER (Labour)
Board Member for a Cleaner, Greener Oxford
City Councillor for Littlemore & County Councillor for Isis
Sunningwell Road, Oxford