Increasing the number of charging points for hybrid electric vehicles is one way the county can improve its air quality.

Air quality in Pembrokeshire is ‘relatively good’ but there are two areas already suffering a “canyon effect” of high emissions according to a recent report.

Both commercial main streets in Haverfordwest and Pembroke are already recognised as ‘Air Quality Management Areas’ with traffic the main contributor to poor air quality .

High concentrations of nitrogen dioxide are found in the areas where there are high sided buildings on either side of narrow roads – known as the canyon effect – resulting in low dispersion of air.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s cabinet members received a report on Monday at their meeting at County Hall updating on air quality in the county including ways it could be improved across the board and in ‘hotspots’.

It includes annual car free days, changing the council fleet where possible to electric/hybrid vehicles, improving and providing electrical charging points across Pembrokeshire and implementation of better traffic management schemes.

Cabinet member for finance Clr. Bob Kilmister said there were no charging points other than in Haverfordwest adding that visitors in hybrid cars were “stuck” when the come here.

“We need to tackle that,” remarked Clr. Kilmister, who said that position was also important.

“They need to be on the main road not in car parks, that’s where you charge. We need some more action on it.

“It does make the air much cleaner if you don’t have an exhaust.”

Council leader Clr. David Simpson said there was Welsh Government schemes available for funding charging points and a private garage in Milford Haven was expected to install one in the next six months.

Testing of air quality is carried out at a range of locations using “passive diffusion tubes, active samplers and real-time automatic analysers”.

Further proposals for managing air quality will be considered once the upcoming new guidance from Welsh Government is published.