There is a major pollution problem in Oxford. Or is there?

The answer is it depends who you believe; the authors of three separate studies into air quality in the city, or our county council.

In January, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy told us that we were the fifth worst in the country for nitrogen dioxide levels.

Last year, Calor Gas told us our air quality was the worst out of 30 locations nationwide. Now the RMT union wades in with a survey putting us eighth among the 28 worst offenders.

As it did with the previous studies, Oxfordshire County Council has dismissed the latest findings as "misleading and inaccurate".

The dispute involves the way in which the readings are taken and, in particular, how far the monitoring equipment used is placed from the roadside.

So if all three studies are wrong, what is the actual level and how harmful is it to our health? That's what the county council should be telling us today.

Instead, it is still drafting an 'Air Quality Action Plan' for submission to the Department for Transport next year.

As there's no indication of when any action will follow that, our sloth-like leaders at County Hall can hardly be surprised if people form their opinions from the information they have in front of them. Roll on the next survey!