Leeds city centre street named most polluted outside of London

A street in Leeds city centre has been identified as the most polluted outside of London, according to environmental group Friends of the Earth.

Neville Street, near Leeds train station, has an nitrogen dioxide annual average level of 99 ug/m3, the group said.

This figure breaches the annual Air Quality Objective for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels, which are suggested to be 40ug/m3.

Friends of the Earth compiled this data after gaining access to the most recent local authority annual Air Quality Status Reports submitted to government.

The group said a total of 1,758 sites across the England, Wales and Northern Ireland re measuring over the air quality limits.

Simon Bowens, clean air campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “It’s unforgivable that across the UK there are nearly two thousand locations over air quality limits, leaving millions of us breathing dangerously polluted air.

“Air pollution is often an issue thought of as affecting only the biggest cities. The reality is that unacceptably toxic air can be found across much of the UK, even in smaller towns. It is harming the health of people across the country and is especially bad for young children whose lungs are still developing.

“The government needs to step up and do more to help deal with this air pollution crisis – they can’t just carry on leaving the difficult decisions with local authorities, many of which are severely under-resourced.”