LAUNCESTON could soon to be declared as an Air Quality Management Area after latest results indicate that six of the nine areas in the town exceed the maximum levels.

Eloise Travis, from Cornwall Council’s Environment Protection team, gave an update at the latest Launceston Community Network Panel meeting on Thursday, September 21.

Air quality has been monitored in the town since January 2016, when a number of diffusion tubes were placed in the likes of Newport square, St Thomas Road and Western Road, while tubes have also been placed next to the Spar shop on Dutson Road and on Wooda Road.

At the moment, there are nine diffusion tubes with the main areas of concern being around Newport Square, the industrial estate and the steep climb up St Thomas Hill, which goes up towards the castle and town centre.

At present, it is believed that 16,000 vehicles use the A388 through Newport each day with 70% of them being local trips while big HGVs make up 45% of that tally.

Ms Travis told the meeting: “Action is required. We sent the results to DEFRA and we’ve said that we should become an Air Quality Management area. There are already eight of these in the county including at Camelford.

“There will now be a public consultation from October 18 (Wednesday) to December 8 (Friday) and there’s also going to be a public drop-in session here at the town hall on Wednesday, November 8, which will run from 3pm-7pm.”

The views of everyone will be considered and, if approved, Launceston will be declared as an Air Quality Management Area.

Plans to lower the levels will be drawn up and then another consultation will take place.

Cllr Rob Tremain, asked: “What would you suggest should be done to help improve things?”

Ms Travis replied: “There are a number of measures. The main one is to think about how you travel, try and change the road layouts, which may reduce the busy areas and the through traffic. Also 70% of the traffic is from local trips, so if people thought of alternative ways it can help.

“However, it’s going to be difficult as a lot of the properties around are old buildings.”

South Petherwin Parish Council chairman, Phil Parsons, said: “We need an eastern road on to the A30 due to sheer amount of traffic in the town,” while town councilor Jane Nancarrow, said: “Newport Square is a really big problem. Sometimes it’s a nightmare.”

In reply, Ms Travis said: “It’s about making small adjustments. I think St Thomas Hill is the biggest problem.”

The issue was then brought to a close by the chair of the meeting, Cornwall Councillor for Stoke Climsland, Neil Burden.