Air Pollution Fears Over School Walk

Dear Sir,

I would add to your otherwise excellent editorial in last week's Chronicle on the health benefits of walking to school the effects of local air pollution.

It is not well known that pollution levels of for instance nitrogen oxides are higher inside than outside a moving car.

Obviously, if fewer cars make the car run the levels for everyone will decrease with advantages to everyone.

They will however remain too high especially for young lungs on the pavements beside busy roads.

What we need is more off road routes to school, especially secondary ones with their wider catchment areas.

Part of the aim of the sustainability arm of the Congleton Neighbourhood Plan is to achieve just this.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Peter Hirst

Middlewich