The reason there are European Laws relating to pollution is to protect citizens from its harmful effects. There can be no argument that pollution causes ill health and premature death.

The extent of this is debatable but according to the House of Commons enviromental audit committee every one of our lives will be reduced by seven to eight months and 50,000 of us will die prematurely every year because of poor air quality.

Coun Mayes (letters, July 21) wishes to reassure us she is “doing everything she can” to lower the excessive pollution in Devizes caused by traffic congestion. As traffic associated with new housing developments, like that proposed for Coate, will substantially add to the already “illegal” levels, can we also be assured she will strenuously resist this and other similar proposals, at least to safeguard our health?

Alan Cowley, Roundway, Devizes.