Liberal Democrat Councillors and campaigners have voiced criticism that the recently-announced Air Quality Management Areas for Temple Cloud and Farrington Gurney will do little to alleviate levels of harmful air pollution in the area.

Villagers are regularly exposed to levels of Nitrogen Dioxide well in excess of legal limits, but the Council has yet to produce tangible plans to reduce the pollution.

Councillor Richard Samuel, Lib-Dem spokesperson on air quality, said: “Whilst I recognise that the Council had little choice other than to declare these areas due to the excessive pollution levels, no concrete plans have been prepared as to how the Council intends to meet its legal duties.

“At the same time as declaring the areas, the Council should be publishing a comprehensive costed plan as to how it plans to reduce pollution. The failure to do so means this is little more than window dressing.

“Residents in Temple Cloud and Farrington Gurney have the right to be better served by the Council.”

Temple Cloud resident and local Liberal Democrat campaigner, David Wood (pictured), said: “My toddler and I are living with dangerous levels of pollution. B&NES Council has been thinking about this for months, and hasn’t come up with a single idea for tackling the problem.

“It seems they don’t care about Temple Cloud or the people who live here. We need action, not words. We need change at the Council.”

A spokesperson for B&NES Council told The Journal this week: “The Council takes the issue of air quality seriously throughout the whole of Bath and North East Somerset. As the lead authority on developing the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) plans locally, Bath and North East Somerset Council is taking action as rapidly as possible.

“We would also like to remind people that everyone has a responsibility to take action to improve air quality.

“A single member decision has recently confirmed the boundaries of the AQMA’s in Temple Cloud and Farrington Gurney. The action plan is currently being worked on, and will be published in draft form to go out for public consultation, which will then be part of a Joint Member Decision in due course.”

In response to the Lib Dem's, Cllr Tim Warren, on behalf of Bath & North East Somerset Conservatives, said: “In light of the recent comments made by the Liberal Democrats in regard to air quality action needed in Temple Cloud and Farrington Gurney, we are disappointed to see that they are playing political games with this issue.

"During their time in control of the administration, the Liberal Democrats made absolutely zero attempt of tackling air quality and just kicked the can down the road. Now they are in opposition, it is frankly absurd for them to point the finger. What they fail to understand is that the Council is currently following the legal procedures to create an Air Quality Management Area which will hugely reduce pollution throughout the region – until this process is complete no detailed plans can be launched to the public.”

Conservative Councillor for High Littleton, Les Kew, said: “B&NES Conservatives have put tackling air quality at the forefront of their priorities as demonstrated by our Environmental Sustainability Motion that was passed at the last Council meeting. This motion sets us apart from other authorities and will propel us into becoming a national leader.

"The Lib Dems have been most ungenerous in their claims, especially following the introduction of our Local Green Energy tariff which provides 100 per cent renewable electricity and the Our Fairer Energy that will tackle fuel poverty by offering one of the cheapest tariffs available on the market.

"Whilst the Lib Dems sit around and make false accusations we are here making real progress”.