Removing speed bumps to cut pollution a safety risk, MPS warned

ROAD safety campaigners have urged ministers to rethink their plans to remove speed bumps to improve air quality, claiming the idea is “daft and irresponsible”.

The Government’s newly published strategy to reduce air pollution advises councils to change road layouts and get rid of street furniture to cut down on harmful emissions.

Ministers have insisted that road safety must not be compromised by any changes, but that has not reassured campaigners, who also claim that ripping up speed bumps would actually lead to an increase in pollution. They argue that removing them would make roads less safe, causing fewer children to walk or cycle to school and leading to more polluting cars on the road.

Living Streets, a road safety campaign group, has written to Michael Gove, the environment secretary, urging him to rethink the proposal. Rachel Maycock, a group spokesman, told BBC News: “This idea is completely daft and irresponsible. Of course we all worry about the air our children breathe – but we also worry about reckless drivers going far too fast.”

The Government’s new air quality strategy includes proposals for a Clean Air Fund which will enable councils to bid for funding to change road layouts to cut congestion and reduce pollution.

A Government spokesman said: “Reducing roadside pollution is a priority for this Government.”