EXCESSIVE traffic levels at the controversial junction where Hythe Bridge Street meets George Street could be damaging the city's air quality, it has been claimed.

Measurements recorded in locations in the city last year showed nitrogen dioxide levels had increased in George Street, Park End Street and Beaumont Street since 2014.

The junction, which has been described as dangerous for cyclists, has regularly been the cause of tailbacks in the city since December 2014.

City council board member for Environment John Tanner said he "could not rule out" the possibility the junction changes had impacted on air quality and promised to consider monitoring Walton Street from 2017 to further look into the problem.

City councillor for the area Susanna Pressel said: "I have recently had a lot of complaints about the way traffic is backing up at the southern end of Walton Street.

"This is clearly caused by the new junction lay-out where George Street meets Hythe Bridge Street and Worcester Street.

"The congestion is really frustrating for motorists, but I’m also worried about air pollution, especially for the many people who live in Walton Street, where queuing traffic sits there, belching out fumes."

Levels in Hythe Bridge Street and Worcester Street had dropped in 2015 compared to recent years and the overall levels of nitrogen dioxide are down by 35 per cent over the past ten years.

All but one of the five streets - Hythe Bridge Street - however, were over the EU limit of 40 micrograms per cubic metre.

The city council currently use 75 diffusion tubes to monitor nitrogen dioxide across the city taking an average concentration - while there are three continuous real-time monitoring stations in the city.

Oxfordshire Green Party member Hazel Dawe said: "Despite some small improvements in recent years we are still regularly breaching World Health Organisation regulations for air pollution levels.

"Junctions like the one at George Street and Hythe Bridge Street don't help at all - traffic is always stationary and it's very uncomfortable for cyclists which will dissuade people from using bikes."

Councillor John Tanner said: "The results of the monitoring over the past five years show a mix of increases

and decreases in the annual mean.

"It is not possible to directly associate this with the changes to the junction, as air quality is impacted by conditions such as wind and temperature.

"It is however not possible either to rule out that junction changes are having an impact on air quality."

Mrs Dawe also criticised the council's move to offer discounted parking in the city earlier this month until the opening of the new Westgate shopping centre.

Shoppers and commuters can park all day in the Oxpens car park from £6 if a permit is bought online in advance.

Mrs Dawe said: "It sends completely the wrong message - we should be discouraging people from driving into the city and encouraging people to use other modes of transport.

"The only ways to solve the air quality problems is by reducing the number of cars - sharing lifts, making buses cheaper and creating a fully joined-up cycling network would help."