COUN Andy D’Agorne mentions the increased pollution on Fulford Road (Readers’ Letters, September 14), but he conveniently forgets to mention that he has directly supported recent traffic restrictions – grass verges, traffic islands and protection for parked vehicles – thus slowing traffic, causing increased pollution. When will he learn?

Get the traffic flowing, then he will get the Government grants.

C P Hird, York Road, Haxby, York.

• CP Hird’s comments about Fulford Road (Readers’ Letters, September 14) suggesting that recent changes such as new grass verges have contributed to pollution by slowing traffic bear little relation to the facts.

Trees and vegetation help to absorb and counteract traffic pollution, and the changed layout has helped local people who want to walk or cycle to choose to do so in preference to making short journeys by car.

The removal of some on-street parking other than outside the shops to provide 1.5m wide cycle lanes has smoothed traffic flow and improved visibility for cyclists and drivers emerging from side roads.

In relation to Nick Derbyshire’s comments (Lanes no use, September 15) referring to a recent study suggesting drivers allow less space for cyclists where there are cycle lanes, readers should know that this study involved narrow lanes well below the 1.5m minimum width laid down in government guidance and now taken as a standard for new on road lanes in York.

Just to be clear, the traffic pollution hot spot referred to in my letter is at the junction of Main Street and Heslington Lane in Fulford, where it is largely the concern of drivers wanting to park and the volume of traffic on the road that restricts traffic flow and threatens the health of those living nearby.

Coun Andy D’Agorne Fishergate Ward, Broadway West, York.