CAMPAIGNERS for better air quality in Calne town centre resurrected 18th century scientist Joseph Priestley yesterday to call for Wiltshire Council and Calne Town Council to fund a traffic survey.

Dressing as Priestley, who lived in Calne, Tom Morris, secretary of Calne Labour said: “Joseph Priestley discovered Oxygen in Calne but we’ve not got enough of it to go round. Children are at terrible risk of developing breathing problems just by walking to school, and the time it takes to get through the give-and-take section of road in the middle of Calne is appalling."

But Wiltshire and Calne Councillor Alan Hill said he believed the protest was politically motivated: “I think they are misinformed. I don’t want people to be caused distress and anxiety,” he said.“For a number of years Calne Town Council has been working closely with Calne Area Board, part of Wiltshire Council, and addressing this issue, and levels of nitrogen dioxide are coming down.”

Wiltshire Council has been monitoring air quality in Calne and latest figures revealed nitrogen dioxide levels in New Road were still above the recommended level. Data published in Wiltshire Council's 2018 Air Quality Annual Status Report show that both Curzon Street and New Road exceeded the nitrogen dioxide annual mean objective level of 40µg/m in 2016. The level had dropped in both locations by 2017, but it was still too high in New Road.

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “The air quality in Wiltshire is predominantly very good with the majority of the county having clean, unpolluted air. We do have a handful of air quality management areas in Wiltshire, including some parts of Calne.

“The latest validated data for 2017 shows only one location in Calne (New Road), exceeded the annual nitrogen dioxide levels expected. While this demonstrates progress has been made we will strive to make further improvements in line with the 2018 air quality data, when it becomes available.”

“We will continue to do all we can, but it must be stressed that everyone has a part to play to improve local air quality from individuals, local communities, central government to car manufacturers.”

The campaigners have launched their petition on Change.org, which can be found by searching for “Fix the Jam in Calne.”