TRAFFIC campaigners in Banwell are demanding a meeting with North Somerset Council to find out how polluted their village is. The council has been monitoring pollution levels after residents called for it to become an Air Quality Management Area in 2002.

TRAFFIC campaigners in Banwell are demanding a meeting with North Somerset Council to find out how polluted their village is.The council has been monitoring pollution levels after residents called for it to become an Air Quality Management Area in 2002.Campaigners were worried people's health was being affected by car fumes from the village's congested roads.Pollution monitors have been put up throughout the village, but concerned residents say they do not know what the readings mean.The council publishes the figures in a report that can be seen at the Town Hall.But Banwell Bypass Action Group (BBAG) says it is full of technical jargon and members want someone to explain it to them.BBAG member Lisa Griffiths, who lives in West Street, has had a council pollution monitor in her house for the last two-and-a half years.The 35-year-old and her three-year-old daughter Holly both suffer from asthma and want to know if the council is going to do anything if the fumes are threatening their health.Lisa said: "We've had these monitors for years and the council collects the readings, but we don't know what's going on."We want someone from the council to come to the meetings so they can explain how bad the fumes are and what they're going to do to reduce it if they need to."The recent roadworks has seemed to reduce the amount of traffic, so we want to know if that has reduced the pollution levels as well."North Somerset Council's executive member for the environment and community, Councillor Deborah Yamanaka, said it would be a good idea for an environmental officer to explain the reports.She said: "There was a problem with air pollution in Banwell a few years ago, but the levels have not reached a critical level since.