A MEETING to discuss improvements in air quality in Westbury this week turned into another debate over the long-running bypass issue in the town.

The town council met on Tuesday to hear a presentation from West Wiltshire District Council's environmental health officer Rachel Kent over plans to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide in the town. The draft air-quality plan states that while a bypass would reduce levels of pollution, there are other methods such as improved car engines, increased use of public transport and school walking plans that could help ease the problem and ensure levels of the gas are reduced to an acceptable standard.

But both councillors and members of the public took the opportunity of the extraordinary meeting to air their views about the bypass.

Local resident David Oliver said: "It is a fact that the A350 suffers from air pollution. It should be obvious that although the draft air plan speaks of traffic controlling with introducing smaller cars and less polluting fumes, the answer is to reduce traffic.

"The only real way to do this is to provide a bypass and build it in the shortest time possible."

Councillors also brought up issues such as noise levels caused by traffic as the discussion veered away from the air- quality plan towards another debate on the bypass.

During the meeting there was also a proposal to put forward a delegate to speak to the appropriate government road minister in preparation for the decision on funding for an eastern bypass, due to be made in December.

This was rejected on the grounds that there was no advantage in sending a delegate when there is still disagreement between the town councillors over the best position of the bypass.