By Local Democracy Reporter
Piers Meyler

THE areas with the highest levels of mortality associated with small particulates also have some of the highest levels of road traffic.

Basildon Council’s incoming leader Councillor Andy Baggott says that air pollution should be at the forefront of any decisions surrounding infrastructure.

This comes as the Government announced new powers for local councils to tackle pollution hotspots.

Basildon has the second highest levels of mortality behind Thurrock and this is attributed to small particulates in Essex, with 6.2 per cent of the deaths of people people aged 25 and over blamed on small particulate pollution.

The most recent statistics in 2014 showed that 6.5 per cent of deaths of those over 25 in Thurrock could be attributed to small particulates, while in Southend 6.1 per cent of over 25 deaths are blamed on small particulate pollution.

Cllr Baggott said: “We do have to be very careful about air pollution, especially when we are talking about potentially increasing the amount of traffic on roads.”

However, he added that a careful methodology needed to be carried out before any policies were implemented.

He said: “What needs to be done is to have a sound proper and unbiased survey in order to come to the right conclusions.”

In Chelmsford, 72 people aged 25 and over are believed to die each year from particulate pollution while Tendring , which has the worst most mortality rates in Essex, recorded the lowest death rate due to particulate pollution.

There, just 5.3 per cent of those aged 25 and over who died were killed due to particulate pollution.

Braintree saw a mortality rate of 5.5 per cent, Brentwood 6 per cent, Castle Point 6 per cent, Colchester 5.5 per cent, Epping Forest, 6 per cent, Harlow 6 per cent, Maldon 5.4 per cent, Rochford 5.7 per cent and Uttlesford 5.4 per cent.