Falling air pollution on Glasgow’s Byres Road is set to see it removed from a watchlist, despite levels still being short of World Health Organisation standards, a Green councillor has warned.
Council officials have recommended Byres Road and Dumbarton Road should no longer be considered an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) because pollution is decreasing enough.
Major work starting next year to widen footpaths, introduce protected cycle paths and other measures on Byres Road are set to improve air quality further.
The council was required by law to declare the streets as AQMAs as air quality standards were not met. But as the West End area has now seen an improvement since 2017 it is recommended the designation is removed as nitrogen dioxide levels are down.
Councillor Blair Anderson, Scottish Greens, said the West End neighbourhood has seen a rise in pollution since lockdown. He believes the upcoming Byres Road work will add to that with car idling and congestion until the development is finished in a few years.
And he questioned whether the Air Quality Management Areas should be lifted yet during a discussion at the net zero and climate progress monitoring committee this week, warning: "Much of Partick's air is still double or triple the levels of air pollution which the WHO now considers to be safe."
A council official said although the designation is to be removed the areas will still continue to be monitored.
SNP councillor Chris Cunningham said: “We are looking at a substantial redevelopment of Byres Road. A key part of that is to see a reduction of the amount of traffic on Byres Road.
“And if we are to see a reduction in the amount of traffic, and the purpose of the redevelopment is that, then we can realistically expect a reduction on nitrogen dioxide and particulate levels in the area.”
He added: “The reality is we are going to see a significant reduction in pollution levels in Byres Road as a consequence of the infrastructure work that is about to happen.”
The main source of air pollution created within Glasgow comes from road traffic.
Councillors at the meeting agreed to note the intention to revoke the Air Quality Management Area for the two streets following compliance with national goals.
Partick East and Kelvindale Councillor Anderson said following the meeting: "Glasgow is going in the right direction on air quality but we need to be going much further and much faster if we're to follow the science. Much of Partick's air is still double or triple the levels of air pollution which the WHO now considers to be safe.
"There are lots of projects coming in the next few years - pushed for by Greens - which will help clean up our air, such as the Byres Road redevelopment, the city centre Low Emission Zone and huge investment in active travel. We will keep pushing to make sure the people of Glasgow have clean, safe and healthy air to breathe."
Councillor Angus Millar, city convener for transport and climate said: “Poor air quality presents a serious risk to public health, especially for the most vulnerable, so it is encouraging that sustained improvements to air quality on both Byres Road and Dumbarton Road mean that council officers can now seek to have the Air Quality Management Area revoked. While monitoring will continue at this location to ensure continued compliance with air quality standards, the sustained progress here is to be welcomed.
“Next year is a key milestone in our work to reduce air pollution with the full roll-out of our Low Emission Zone to include all vehicles to maximise the air quality benefits it can deliver. This public health policy is an essential measure if Glasgow is to tackle the harmful air pollution that has dogged parts of the city centre for decades.”
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