Crime Scence Investigators examine illegal air pollution levels in York

On 7th June campaigners from York and Ryedale FoE, dressed as Crime Scene Investigators, examined the illegal levels of air pollution at Micklegate Bar.

This was part of our York's Jammed campaign. We want the council to take urgent action to bring pollution levels down to safe and legal levels. Local residents have a right to clean air and good health. Strong measures to resolve the problem need to be taken urgently. We need both a reduction in traffic levels and the rapid introduction of low emission vehicles for essential journeys.

York is one of many cities around the UK which has suffered from high levels of air pollution for years. The UK government and local councils having failed to act are now in breach of European Union legislation (the European Directive on Air Quality). As a result the government could now be fined up to £300million and the council could also face financial penalties.

As well as being linked to early deaths there is recent scientific evidence that air pollution causes asthma, heart disease and high blood pressure. Air pollution from traffic also causes damage to historic buildings such as York Minster and can damage the variety of plant life on local nature reserves such as Askham Bog.