Clean Country Air? A Closer Look at Tetbury’s Air Quality

graciefickling12
2 days ago
4 min read

As you trundle down Tetbury’s high street, passing Cotswold stone shopfronts, the characteristic marketplace and famous church spire, you may not think that air quality is something we need to concern ourselves with. Isn’t that something cities have to worry about?

While air pollution is certainly a bigger problem in towns and cities, where traffic volumes and congestion are higher, we are still affected by air pollution in Tetbury. In this article we examine Tetbury's air quality.

What is air pollution? And why is it a problem?

Air pollution is a mix of tiny particles, liquid droplets and gases that contaminate the air and can be harmful to people and the world around us. Some pollutants are man-made, such as gases and soot from burning fossil fuels. Others occur naturally, like flower and tree pollen.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (liquids or solid matter in the air) are two of the main components of air pollution. There are particular concerns around the levels of NO₂ in our atmosphere in the UK.

Air pollution can affect our health, particularly our heart and lungs. It has been linked to conditions such as asthma, COPD and heart disease, and can worsen existing illnesses. Air pollution particularly affects children, the elderly, and those with existing heart and lung conditions.

The good news is that:

1. Air pollution is being monitored across the UK, including right here in Tetbury

2. Air quality is (generally) improving across the UK.

3. We can all take steps to help improve the air quality.

This video from National Geographic explains more about the causes of air pollution and the science behind it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6rglsLy1Ys

Tetbury’s air quality and the impact on residents

Tetbury has an air quality monitoring system on Silver Street that has been tracking nitrogen dioxide levels since early 2024. This was set up by Cotswold District Council and results are published annually in June.

The latest report based on 2024 data shows that on average on Silver Street there is 17.2 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide per cubic metre of air (μg/m³).

Cotswold District Council is monitoring the air quality on Silver Street, Tetbury, pictured above.

While the result of 17.2μg/m³ falls well below the national objective of 40μg/m³, it is higher than the recommended 10 μg/m³ annual average by the more cautious guidelines published by the World Health Organization.

What the results mean:

· Tetbury’s result is not considered high air pollution

· It is not expected to cause acute symptoms in healthy individuals

· It is above the WHO guideline, meaning some increased long-term health risks cannot be ruled out, especially for:

o People with asthma

o Children

o Older adults

o Those with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions

· There is plenty of room to improve Tetbury’s air quality.

Full details of the air quality monitoring across Cotswold District Council in 2024 can be found at the link below:

Air Quality Annual Report 2025

How you can help improve our town’s air quality

There are some simple steps we can all take to help reduce air pollution in Tetbury.

Tweak your travel plans

Vehicle emissions are the greatest source of air pollution in the UK, so your travel is where you can make the biggest difference.

One car-free trip

Swap a car journey once a month (or even a couple of times a year) for one of the below modes of transport. If you’re successful with this, try increasing the frequency of car-free journeys.

· Train, bus or other public transport

· The Robin Bus Service - The Robin (your bookable bus) | Gloucestershire County Council

· Cycling or walking

· Car share

Activate eco-mode

Check whether your vehicle has an ‘eco-driving’ style. If it does, then turn it on. This setting reduces fuel usage and emissions.

Avoid idling

Do not leave your car engine running while stopped. Idling uses more fuel than switching off, generates more emissions than driving, and can be illegal. Read our previous article to learn more about the laws and impacts around idling in cars: It's time to turn off - let's end engine idling

Cleaner air at home

There are also steps you can take at home or in your garden to improve air quality for your household, neighbours and the wider community.

Use Fewer Chemicals

Choose low-VOC (volatile organic compound) cleaning products and paints. These products use water as a primary solvent instead of petroleum-based chemicals, resulting in significantly lower VOC levels.

Reduce Burning

Avoid burning wood, coal, or garden waste where possible to avoid releasing harmful gases and ash into the air.

Plant Trees and Hedging:

Greenery helps clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide. It also collects particulate matter from the air on leaves and while it doesn’t get rid of it, it does remove it from the air we breathe. Hedges and trees should generally be planted between October - March in the UK. Our hedge planting scheme will start again in the autumn - learn more about how we can help fund and plant hedges in your garden: Let's Grow More Hedges: Free Support For Local Gardens

Calculate your air pollution footprint

This online calculator estimates your air pollution footprint and gives you personalised tips on how you can reduce air pollution at home. Just answer a few questions for your tailored report.

Air pollution calculator