Drivers facing fumes fines

Public protection bosses at Shropshire Council are trying to push the measures through in a bid to slash the amount of emissions at several hotspots around the town which are recording higher than permitted levels.

The sites include Shrewsbury town centre, Heathgates island and the village of Bayston Hill. Hotspot sites also include two in Whitburn Street and one in Pound Street, both in Bridgnorth.

Under the plans council staff could be granted powers to issue fixed penalty notices to motorists who are found to be unnecessarily creating more carbon emissions.

Officials say that if the proposals are taken forward they would adopt a "common sense" approach and would not deliberately penalise motorists such as targeting those waiting at traffic lights.

The authority also wants to bring in new emission zones, car sharing schemes and improved park and ride facilities.

And a subsidy could be paid to bus operators in return for more environmentally friendly improvements to their fleets.

A report by Andy Goldsmith, assistant director of public protection at Shropshire Council, says a focus group will be set up to draw up a document that can be put out to public consultation by November this year.

Mr Goldsmith says: "The two primary pollutants that have been monitored in Shropshire are nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. Current data suggests that the main concern is nitrogen dioxide largely associated with traffic emissions."

Mr Goldsmith said results from the 129 monitoring sites had been studied.

He said: "These indicate an upwards trend in nitrogen dioxide concentration and although the data for 2009 has not yet been corrected, this also indicated a continued upwards trend."

Members of a unitary council watchdog were due to meet today.

By Russell Roberts