CALLS have been made for some roads in Brighton city centre to be closed as part of a campaign day to educate residents about reducing air pollution.

Green councillors proposed that Brighton and Hove City Council should hold a Cleaner Air Day to help minimise the amount of pollutants in the air, which cause between five and six per cent of deaths in the city annually.

Recommendations for making Cleaner Air Day a success include closing some roads to traffic, organising a volunteer-led “no-idling” patrol asking drivers of stationary vehicles to turn off their engines, as well as community-led awareness and pollution reduction events.

Louisa Greenbaum, Green group councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine ward, said: “On this day some of the worst polluted roads would be closed to traffic.

“This is not just about one day, it is about building on behaviours that are going to impact on the city beyond that day.”

Public Health England estimates that exposure to “fine particulate matter” causes an annual mortality rate of five to six per cent in the city, which councillor Greenbaum said equates to around 200 deaths a year.

Councillors noted that nitrogen dioxide levels in the city continue to exceed EU and UK standards at a full council meeting last week.

They unanimously approved proposals for a report to be brought to the environment, transport and sustainability committee, exploring options for introducing Cleaner Air Day.

The report will identify which roads could be closed, the best date and any costs associated with the plans.

Councillor Phelim Mac Cafferty said Queens Road and Western Road are two of the worst for carbon dioxide levels in the city.

He said: “It might seem unbelievable to think that Brighton and Hove, a place doctors once recommended as a ‘place to take the sea air’ is now one of 40 UK cities breaching safe air pollution limits.

”Road vehicles have been identified as the greatest contributing factor to air pollution in our city.

“The top 3 places with the worst air pollution in the city are the Clock Tower, London Road and Cheapside- all in the city centre air quality management areas.

“Two thirds of the households in those areas do not own a car.

“We have the situation where the people least responsible for creating the air pollution crisis in our city are most exposed to it and paying the price in their health.”

Former mayor of the city, Councillor Pete West, said: “We need more road-sharing in central spaces.

“It is good to demonstrate we can do things differently.

“The point about Cleaner Air Day is raising a debate.”

The campaign day is proposed to be held in June or September.