Swaffham councillor asks whether London-style low-traffic neighbourhood could help pollution levels

A councillor has queried whether contentious low-traffic neighbourhoods could be introduced to tackle pollution levels in Swaffham.

At Wednesday’s Swaffham Town Council meeting, Cllr Jill Skinner said she is among a group who are trying to determine what pollution rates are in the town.

“We are very concerned about the massive lorries coming through, and about the children going to school,” she said.

She also claimed that doctors in Swaffham are diagnosing more people with asthma, and asked: “Can we link it to something like this?”

Cllr Skinner said she has been told pollution levels are the same as they were in Swaffham five years ago, but that she does not believe this can be the case.

In reference to the controversial low-traffic neighbourhood plans introduced by Sadiq Khan in the country’s capital, she said: “Let’s face it – in London they are trying to do something about it, so why not here?”

However, town mayor Stewart Bell countered by saying that modern-day vehicles are “far more friendly” to the environment – and that it may therefore be the case that levels are the same as they were in 2018.

“Yes, but we want evidence,” Cllr Skinner responded.

Cllr Judy Anscombe, who represents Swaffham on Breckland Council, told the meeting she will attempt to gather that evidence.