Pollution hotspots at major city roads are to be targeted to improve air quality.

Air quality management areas are being proposed for swathes of Brighton and Hove where fumes are predicted to exceed acceptable levels.

Cars and lorries which pump out huge amounts of exhaust fumes could eventually be banned from the zones.

The Government will impose tough limits on the amount of unhealthy emissions allowed next year.

Brighton and Hove City Council claims to be taking action to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide in Lewes Road, Grand Parade and Preston Circus.

Members of the environment committee will decide on Thursday whether the council has to impose the management areas.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, who chairs the committee, said: "The air quality management area will make it easier to focus on the hotspots and give us a better indication of where resources need to be allocated.

"There is a continued increase in bus passengers and an increase in people walking and cycling. But it's clearly not enough and more needs to be done to help improve the air quality for people living, working and visiting Brighton and Hove."

The boundary line of the proposed air areas begins near the Royal Pavilion at the bottom of Marlborough Place. It will follow the A23 to Preston Circus and along Viaduct Road, Lewes Road, Grand Parade and the Vogue Gyratory.

The council says measures are already in place to reduce the amount of pollution. These include plans for a rapid transport system, park-and-ride improvement, a coach strategy, home zones and car clubs.

Environmentalists say this is too little to stamp out high levels of pollution, which can trigger asthma and other breathing problems.

Coun Keith Taylor, convenor of the council's Green Party group, said: "This is stark evidence of where an over-reliance on the motor car can lead to.

"The Greens have been arguing for years that the council must do more to encourage other forms of transport across the city.

"But we have Labour wanting huge car parks on the Downs while retaining city centre parking.

"We must make real progress on buses, cycling and walking - and everyone in the city will be the better for it."

The new Local Transport Plan drawn up by the council will have more measures to tackle congestion and pollution.

These include an extension of the quality bus partnership, better parking management and improved facilities for walking and cycling.

More than 126 cities and towns have air areas, including London, Manchester and Bristol.

A city-wide review and assessment report was carried out by the council as a requirement of the Environment Act.

The findings were verified by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

A map of the air areas is available on www.brighton-hove.gov.uk

Friday August 27, 2004