NEW pockets of poor air quality have been identified in the Sevenoaks district.

Sevenoaks previously had a total of 11 Air Quality Management Areas AQMAs, but harmful levels of pollution were recently found in Brasted.

As a result, the entire A25 will now be merged into one AQMA running the length of the district.

The council said this decision will lead to efficiencies in action planning and administration.

Cllr Avril Hunter, Sevenoaks District Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for air quality, said: “Increased levels of nitrogen dioxide are a direct result of vehicle pollution.

“To help tackle the problem, local actions plans with practical measures have been implemented through close work with Kent County Council and the Highways Agency.

“These initiatives such as changes to road junctions to improve traffic flow and promotion of walking and car sharing will contribute to improved air quality in areas where pollution exceeds Government targets.”

Visit http://www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/airquality to view Sevenoaks District Council’s Quality Action Plan or http://www.kentjourneyshare.com to register for the county council’s car-sharing website.

The declaration of the new Air Quality Management Areas were agreed by Cabinet at their meeting last Thursday

via New areas of air pollution found down length of A25 | This is Kent.