Sir – Nitrogen dioxide inflames the lining of the lungs and reduces immunity to lung infections. Children with asthma and older people with heart disease are most at risk. It is called the invisible killer.

In Oxford, our councils publish all the pollution data on dangerous emissions. Nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen continue to increase despite a recession and the introduction of new ‘hybrid’ buses. Indeed our councillors have commissioned a study on why this is happening which will report in two years.

So, how can we, with our knowledge of this, route all diesel buses in central Oxford around one route passing within feet of residential housing in Thames Street? This area is already a red spot on the council’s map of dangerous pollution. Then add the diesel cars and delivery lorries going to the new Westgate.

Reduce the number of car parking spaces in the untested hope that this will encourage diesel car drivers into diesel buses so that diesel cars may queue longer with engines running. Finally, build new buildings five storeys high to block the prevailing winds.

There is no impact or environment assessment for the county council’s Westgate transport and streetscape proposals.

The developers must report on the safety of their own plans. Can we expect Westgate Alliance’s impact and environment assessments to report that their plans plus the transport and streetscape proposals are unsuitable for the health of residents and that, therefore, they will withdraw?

Perhaps a more equitable solution, if we demand diesel engines in cities, is to share the burden of traffic equally among all roads. For the time being, until this problem is solved, responsible councillors will seek to carry on running buses down Queen Street and through the proposed Westgate development down Old Greyfriars Street.

Alice Brander, Oxford