SHOCK pollution readings in a market town where a £34m bypass has just been opened have forced a council to create its first ever special air quality area.

In 24 years of monitoring pollution around its roads and towns Hambleton district council has come up with a clean bill of health, until now.

An area of Bedale, around Bridge street has failed pollution tests for nitrogen dioxide, sparking an alert which means the authority has to declare it an Air Quality Management Area.

The authority will now have to work with North Yorkshire county council to come up with a plan on how to improve the situation.

The route is one of the main roads through the town for school children who can be particularly badly affected by air pollution, along with the elderly.

What makes the results more shocking is that a £34m bypass was opened around Bedale in August last year especially to take traffic away from the area which is at the centre of the pollution scare, known locally as White Bear corner.

One of the Hambleton district councillors for Bedale, Cllr John Noone said it was deeply disappointing particularly as the latest figures show that traffic has reduced by around 50 per cent through the town because of the bypass.

“I am concerned if the bypass has not alleviated the traffic pollution as much as it should have done. We hope North Yorkshire county council can put in some measures that will help to do the job and we will be interested to see what they can come up with.

“It is very disappointing because we expected the reductions in traffic movement would have brought pollution levels down to an acceptable level. The latest figures on the bypass are that the traffic has been reduced by 50 per cent through Aiskew and Bedale and that includes heavy goods vehicles which previously would have gone through the town.”

Paul Staines, Director of Leisure and Environment for Hambleton said they had been monitoring air pollution since 1993. He added: “The results over the past 24 years have shown that the air quality in our towns and villages is very good and below the limits.

“However one area in Bedale has just risen above the air quality limit for nitrogen dioxide and the council is due to declare its first Air Quality Management Area. Working with North Yorkshire County Council, an action plan will be produced showing how air quality on Bridge Street will be improved. One measure could be to reduce or improve traffic flow.

“Everyone can be affected, but it has the most impact on young children, the elderly, and people with existing lung or heart conditions.

“People can do their bit by considering alternative methods of transport, particularly for short journeys, such as public transport, walking or cycling, switching off engines when stationary or when you upgrade your car opt for a less polluting model.”