Ashby de la Zouch Town Council is to undertake its own air quality monitoring at six locations to assess how pollution is affecting the town.

It is likely to take a year due to changes in weather and traffic flow.

Data and analysis will be collected at the following locations in Ashby.

• Market Street
• Wood Street
• Kilwardby Street
• Ullswater Crescent
• Leicester Road (close to Cottage Hospital and Ashby School site)
• Tesco/Aldi junction exchange.

The proposal, previously put forward by Cllr John Coxon, was discussed at last week's meeting of the Town Council's planning and transportation committee which held before the Government's Coronavirus guidelines were announced.

Councillors felt there was a need for air quality measurements in the town - even though the proposed survey would cost almost £4,000 to carry out.

They also agreed with the plan to spread the monitoring across different areas of the town rather than in just one place.

It was felt that the survey would give cover so that the town would know where they stood as regards pollution safety levels in the town.

The motoring will be undertaken by Hugglescote company M-EC Consulting Development Engineers.

In a letter to the Town Council, M-EC explained how the monitoring would work.

The company said: "An initial site visit would be taken to instal the tubes and left to sample over a period of one month.

"After a month, the tubes will be collected and sent for analysis.

"Replacement tubes would then be installed for the next monitoring period of one month and continued for the 12-month period.

"Periodic site visits would be undertaken by local staff members to ensure no damage has occurred to make sure we get the best available data possible.

"Following completion of the monitoring a report documenting the method and survey results will be provided following completion of the monitoring and receipt of data from the lab."

The work is subject to the current Coronavirus restrictions.