Bassetlaw folk are breathing cleaner air than many in UK

An analysis of council reports carried out by Friends of the Earth found levels of nitrogen dioxide at more than 1,000 monitoring sites across England were failing to meet air quality targets.

The audit found no sites in Bassetlaw where the average level of nitrogen dioxide exceeded 40 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

The average must be below 40 to meet government air quality targets, while World Health Organisation guidelines set this as a safe limit to protect public health.

Nationally, 1,360 sites failed to meet the 40 micrograms target in 2018.

Although this was down from 1,591 the previous year, Friends of the Earth said the figure was still shocking.

Simon Bowens, the group’s clean air campaigner, said: “Failing to fix air pollution costs lives and also shows a failure to address the climate crisis.

The Government recently announced £2 billion plans to boost cycling and walking, including a pledge to build thousands of miles of bike lanes.

But environmental campaigners have criticised a separate commitment to invest £27 billion in roadbuilding over the next five years.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said: “Emissions of nitrogen oxides are at their lowest level since records began.

“But there is more to do, which is why we are taking urgent action through the delivery of our £3.8 billion plan to clean up transport and tackle NO2 pollution.”