Traffic controls to cut Storrington pollution

Fumes from traffic on the A283 has led to a build-up of nitrogen dioxide

Banning lorries or controlling traffic flow through a West Sussex village are among measures being considered to improve air quality.

Storrington failed an air quality test two years ago because traffic fumes led to a build-up of nitrogen dioxide.

Art gallery owner Nigel Emery said he had to clean "oily grime" from the shop windows and brickwork every day. "It's pretty dire," he said.

Horsham District Council said improving the air quality was a mammoth task.

"I've been in the shop now for four years and it's got progressively worse," said Mr Emery.

"Storrington is a beautiful little village right in the South Downs National Park and no one wants to stop - they just want to get through as quickly as possible.

"It does need some serious traffic management."

Slower speed

Jo Hughes, who runs a dog walking business, said residents believed sat navs were diverting drivers from the A24 on to the A283 as a short cut to Chichester and Portsmouth.

Councillor Lisa Hawtin said banning HGVs might not be the best solution as many would be delivering to businesses in the village.

Another option, "gating", would mean using signalling to stop traffic before allowing it to enter the village.

"Air quality is worse where you have got congestion, slow flow of traffic or stationary traffic," she said.

"If you hold the traffic back in a location where it's not going to affect anyone you regulate the flow so the speed is slightly higher and the emissions are lower."

The council is drawing up an air quality action plan for submission to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), with a public to follow.

Ms Hawtin said improvements could be in place within a year once the best solution was identified.