A UNION is raising fears about the effect heavy air pollution could have on street cleaners and traffic police in York.

Officials from the GMB union have spoken out since the VW diesel scandal about the dangers faced by workers who breathe in harmful exhaust emissions at work.

Fishergate is included on a list of 110 places across the UK where air quality is automatically monitored. Figures this year show the street has an average level of nitrogen dioxide of 25 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3). European Union sets safe NO2 levels at 40ug/m3.

John McClean, GMB National Health, Safety and Environment officer, said: “These figures on nitrogen dioxide confirm the urgent need for better air quality monitoring in urban and built up areas.

“Clean air should be a right, not a privilege. Road transport is a major cause of air pollution. Even though engine technology is improving, these exposure levels are still dangerously high, and place workers and the public at increased risk of respiratory diseases.”

The union wants firmer action taken to improve air quality in busy town and city centres. “We reiterate our call for high-polluting vehicles to be banned from city centres, and for local authorities to take immediate action in priority areas such as near schools, hospitals and GP surgeries. Waiting for technology to reduce emissions is not an acceptable response.”

They called for information to be publicised to help people avoid the worst areas and times, and say contractors and councils should plan street cleaning and rubbish collection to avoid those peak times.

Last month, the city council published pollution figures showing that the worst location in the city was under the railway station canopy with others including Barbican Road and Paragon Street.