NEARLY 250 people a year in Somerset could be dying prematurely from air pollution known as “black carbon”, a report warns.

A public health expert has suggested tiny particles of pollution which come from unburnt fuels could be more closely monitored in the county.

Those affected are dying on average 10 years early because of the pollution particles, which are also known as PM25s.

A report presented this week also says three parts of the county are already failing EU standards for nitrogen dioxide air pollution.

And increased traffic as a result of new housebuilding could make it more difficult to improve air quality in these areas.

While action is being taken to clean up Somerset’s air, the county is unlikely to have the option of introducing a clean air zone, which is available to Bath, Bristol and other cities.

Stewart Brock, Somerset County Council’s public health specialist, said the number of deaths attributable to air pollution across the UK was similar to the number attributable to alcohol.

He said that money could be invested in monitoring Somerset’s levels of  “black carbon” – the collective term for small particulates which can cause a range of health problems when inhaled.

Just under 250 early deaths in Somerset each year are attributable to black carbon, his report states, but the levels are only been monitored on a small scale at part of the Hinkley Point C construction process.

Measurements of another form of pollution, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) , found three areas in Taunton and Yeovil have exceeded  EC standards.

The A37 Ilchester Road in Yeovil currently has a level of 52 micrograms per cubic metre, while the A358 at East Reach in Taunton and at Henlade just outside the town are both just above the limit, at 41 micrograms per cubic metre each.

Since January 2010, the European Commission has ruled that the concentration of NO2 should not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic metre over the course of a year.

Mr Brock warned in a report to the council’s policies and place scrutiny committee on Tuesday (June 19): “The planned scale of development around Taunton and Yeovil has the potential to increase motor traffic and congestion, offsetting any improvement.”

He added that Somerset’s largely rural character, and the levels being relatively close to the EU limit, mean that central government funding to create “clean air zones” would not be forthcoming, unlike in Bristol and Bath.

Instead, any initiatives to improve the air quality in these areas – and ensure that the quality remains high in other areas – would have to be funded through the council’s existing resources.

Residents will have an opportunity to put their own ideas forward when a public consultation is held later in the year.

Mr Brock said the council should consider procuring cleaner vehicles to replace its own fleet, and could use tighter planning regulations to ensure that new development in urban areas did not impact on air quality.

He also suggested that councils could increase the uptake of electric or hybrid vehicles through their licensing powers.

He said: “District councils should consider using their licensing powers and/ or incentives to enable taxi and private hire fleets to move more rapidly to hybrid and other less polluting vehicles.”

Councillor Simon Coles, who lives on East Reach, said that improving the flow of traffic through Taunton town centre would lead to a drop in harmful emissions.

He said: “If we got the traffic to flow more easily, can we gain some serious improvements to the air quality, which have deteriorated over the 20 years that I’ve been there?”

Mr Brock said that the success of this would depend on the impact on pedestrianising East Street, which is currently being considered by Taunton Deane Borough Council.

Councillor Bob Filmer said that infrastructure such as public charging points was essential to encourage people to ditch fossil fuels.

He said: “If people are going to move over to zero emissions vehicles, there needs to be the infrastructure in place to support them.”

Councillor Tessa Munt said that the council should “smile on proposals for new cycle routes” to take people away from polluted areas.

Mr Brock agreed, adding that motorists were at the most risk of pollution due to exhaust gases from the vehicle in front coming through into the cabin via their air intake.

He said: “People wanting to take their children to school by car so that they don’t expose them to pollution are doing entirely the wrong thing.”

The council’s draft air quality strategy is expected to come before the cabinet for approval in July, with the public consultation being held later in the year.