DOUBT over Bournemouth council's air pollution claims sparked a protest outside the town hall on Wednesday.

Among those taking part were representatives from the Friends of Riverside group, which is opposing plans to build a new A338 junction for the Wessex Fields site by Bournemouth Hospital.

Also represented were East Dorset Friends of the Earth (EDFOE) and the Holdenhurst village residents association.

Earlier this week the council claimed a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) report which appeared to show the town among the worst in the country for nitrogen dioxide pollution, exceeding EU limits, was incorrect.

A spokesman said the government report was based on "computer modelling" rather than actual readings, and said: "We do not have any areas in Bournemouth that exceed the 40 microgram limit."

However EDFOE is disputing this claim, citing a study it commissioned from Gradko International, a Winchester-based air monitoring firm, in January this year.

According to this study, seen by the Echo, detection equipment left for some 20 days at 10 sites around the town and neighbouring Poole, including Wallisdown Road, Castle Lane and Cemetery Junction, showed nitrogen dioxide levels above the legal limit.

Angela Pooley of EDFOE said: "We deliberately sited the tubes in areas of high traffic and high footfall to emphasise the effects on public health.

"I feel quite sad that Bournemouth disputes this."

The group says air pollution costs the UK economy some £27.5 billion and causes 40,000 premature deaths a year.

Conor O'Luby, co-ordinator for Friends of Riverside, said the readings were evidence for why schemes like Wessex Fields should be re-thought to focus on "sustainable transport".

"Bournemouth continue to deny they are in breach of nitrogen dioxide levels," he said. "The current Defra report clearly shows this, and it is based on real measurements as well as modelling.

"The only way to deal with air pollution from traffic-related sources is to encourage a move away from the motor car towards sustainable forms of transport."

Also, Mr O'Luby said if the council is found to be in breach of the legal limit it could be forced to declare an Air Quality Management Area.

"This has consequences for the planning process and planning decisions, since developers will be expected to come up with and abide by much stricter pollution reduction measures," he said.

The group is urging supporters to sign a petition on change.org (search for A338) and to write to MP Tobias Ellwood with their concerns.