A HEATED row has broken out over Green Party calls for Reading Borough Council to act on potentially dangerous levels of air pollution.

Reading Green Party leader, Cllr Rob White, this week accused the council of failing to react to "very high" levels of a harmful pollutant, which were recorded last week at a Caversham Road monitoring station.

The pollutant, PM10, was found to be at the maximum level of 10 on the scale that air pollution levels are recorded.

Councillor White said: "We would like the council to fast-track the low emission zone to cut transport pollution which it has committed to introduce, but is dragging its feet on."

Enviroment leader, Cllr Paul Gittings, hit back at the party by pointing to a survey, which found that Green-controlled Brighton and Hove council was among the 12 worst areas in the UK for air pollution

and said: "We are in no way dragging our feet on this issue and rather than adopting scaremongering tactics I would suggest that Cllr White would be better lecturing his Green Party colleagues running Brighton and Hove.

"They have not themselves adopted a low emissions zone or as far as I can see taken any proactive measures."

The Greens have said they are worried that the high level of PM10 particles will put many residents at risk as the microscopic airborne particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, presenting a significant health concern.

The party wants to see the council do more to raise awareness of this potential hazard through radio bulletins and social media campaigns informing residents about necessary precautions.

Reading Borough Council recently secured more than �25 million for sustainable transport measures and the introduction of a low emission zone to target heavy goods vehicles.

Cllr Gittings added it is a key priority for the Labour administration.