A TRAFFORD environmental group has expressed its disappointment with the council's moves to cut air pollution in the borough.

At a council meeting on October 11, a Labour motion was passed with all party support which commits Trafford to identify Clean Air Zones and develop an action plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations by the end of March next year.

This will allow the borough to seek some of a Government £255 million national implementation fund available to support this process, and then bid for further funds from a competitive Clean Air Fund.

But the Breathe Clean Air Group claimed that the council should be tackling all forms of pollution, but it was only focusing on roadside nitrogen dioxide.

The group also criticised a Conservative amendment that included a commitment to sign up to UK100 - a leading UK wide network of cities and local authorities campaigning for a Clean Air Act and wider improvements, leading to 100 per cent clean energy in UK towns and cities by 2050.

The group said this meant efforts to achieve clean air had been 'watered down' with a delay of more than 30 years.

Peter Kilvert, chairman of the Breathe Clean Air Group, said: “This delay of over 30 years and the focus on road traffic pollution only, means that the council is welcoming Peel’s dirty biomass plant, air pollution from coal bed methane fracking and possibly many more dirty processes in the planning pipeline.”

The European Environment Agency in Copenhagen has announced this month that filthy air has killed half a million people in Europe in 2014.

Mr Kilvert added: "“It’s time that Trafford Council took air pollution seriously.

“They are delaying action until well after their own retirement time from the council. The council must not grant planning permission to uncontrolled, dirty processes such as power generation, incineration, factory processes and coal bed methane fracking as well as domestic wood burning devices.”

A council spokesperson said: “Trafford Council takes air pollution very seriously.

"Pollution from vehicles is a major challenge for the UK and Trafford is working with partner Greater Manchester councils, Transport for Greater Manchester and other agencies to improve local air quality as quickly as possible.

"The council welcomed the opportunity to consider a motion on improving air quality in the borough and with a few amendments the motion was approved unanimously.

"Trafford Council has also agreed to sign the UK100 pledge to transition to 100 per cent clean energy by 2050. The timescale is challenging to develop ambitious, cost effective plans to move away from non-renewable energy and adopt sustainable energy to improve the local and global environment."