A MORE long-term approach needs to be taken to tackling pollution in Caerleon, a campaigner has said.

The town is considered one of the most polluted areas of Newport, which many have put down to traffic congestion in the area.

As part of an effort to develop a solution to the problem earlier this month, Newport City Council placed temporary traffic lights outside the Hanbury Arms pub in High Street for three days to determine if it improved traffic flows.

But campaigner Michael Enea said the idea did not go far enough to tackle the problem.

“The only viable option is for the council to widen the railway bridge and widen the Malpas Lanes to provide a road out to the west,” he said.

“This would partly relieve some of the traffic in the centre.

“The council must review these lanes with a view to taking action.

“Having traffic lights in Caerleon's centre would cause horrendous daily tailbacks and I'm not sure it's the answer.

“It might make the pollution problem worse.”

He added he was also concerned the problem could get worse with the proposed new housing development at the University of South Wales’ Caerleon campus, which could see up to 400 new homes built in the area.

“I take very seriously the air pollution problem facing Caerleon,” he said. “Yet I feel the negatives of new traffic lights would outweigh the positives.

“The council needs to look at the bigger picture.

“It needs to look long-term.”

A council spokeswoman said the authority was “committed to try and improve air quality throughout the city”.

Head of law and regulation Gareth Price said: “Trials are carried out to ascertain important information, help guide future feasibility studies and long term strategies.

“A report on the findings will be available in the near future and the results will be added to the air quality action plan."

Comments on the trial can still me made online at newport.gov.uk/airquality