RALPH Bryder is right to raise urgent concerns about air quality and traffic (Journal, July 2).

Since The Journal published our (SCAN’s) results in April we have repeatedly and urgently requested a meeting of the Air Quality Management Group, set up by the Council, but illness of a council officer has resulted in delay, and nothing has been done.

Public Health England (a Government body) estimates that air pollution is causing around 29,000 premature deaths a year, and no doubt proportionately, Salisbury is bearing its share of this toll. Since SCAN’s findings, the UK Supreme Court has quashed the Government’s ineffective plans to cut illegal levels of air pollution in Britain and ordered it to deliver new ones by the end of this year.

The Supreme Court ruling means the Government must start work on a comprehensive plan to meet pollution limits as soon as possible. Among the measures that it must consider are low emission zones, congestion charging and other economic incentives.

We urge the council to facilitate a meeting on the air quality issue as soon as possible, and to ensure its strategic transport and economic planners are represented.

ALISON CRAIG Salisbury Clean Air Network