AN MEP has urged Winchester City Council to reduce air pollution in the city by cutting the number of car parks.

Green Party MEP Keith Taylor met councillors and officers last Friday (May 10) to discuss the chronic problem.

The visit followed a complaint submitted to the European Commission last December by residents claiming Winchester is breaking EU air quality laws.

Mr Taylor, who represents South East England, said: “About 70 per cent of air pollution comes from road transport so the council needs to reduce the amount of cars coming into the city centre.

“One way of doing that would be to reduce the number of parking spaces so people are encouraged to use the park and rides and come in by bus or bicycle.”

The complaint highlighted concerns that the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the city were 25 per cent above the maximum level permitted under UK and EU law.

Exposure to the gas is thought to increase the chances of asthma and respiratory illness in children and Mr Taylor added: “Nobody wants to see more children getting asthma; it's as simple as that. It's not a temporary thing, it's permanent through life.”

In 2003 the city council was forced to declare the city centre the first Air Quality Management Area in non-unitary Hampshire.

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), there are 23 AQMAs in Hampshire, areas where councils have to come up with action plans to reduce emissions.

The high level of traffic, the canyon-effect of many narrow streets, and the city's location between hills, means that pollution can be prone to linger in Winchester.

Cllr Roger Huxstep, portfolio holder for the environment, said the council would review car parking but could not stop traffic coming through the city.

He said: “There is a balance between emissions and running a local economy. Nitrogen dioxide is a product of combustion engines and the only way to solve it is to not have traffic in the city, which is impractical.”

But Cllr Huxstep denied the council was not taking the problem seriously.

He said: “These are indeed serious levels of nitrogen dioxide and a traffic management plan is emerging from the county council which, I hope, will address these problems.

“I do not know the exact details and I believe it is still being worked on by the county council. The county and city council are working together on this to find a resolution.”

Mr Taylor said the council reassured him it was looking at serious solutions.

He said: “I felt the council did understand the problem and it wants to see air quality improved. I think it needs to improve the way it communicates. For example, it is doing good stuff with its cycling and walking strategies but it needs to be telling the public that. It is also doing a study on low emission zones and has committed £500,000 to pay for it.”

Mr Taylor also met colleagues in the Winchester Green Party and Winchester Friends of the Earth.

Chris Gillham, of Winchester FoE, said: "Following our complaint to the European Commission, the council has made no approaches to us concerning its response to that complaint, or indicated by any other public means that it takes the matter seriously.

“Indeed, in the months following our complaint, the city and county councils have continued to make plans, at Silver Hill, Barton Farm and Easton Lane, which can only have the consequence of increasing city centre traffic.”

Mr Taylor has been touring his constituency as part of the 'European Year of Air 2013'.