FOLLOWING the personal attack by Labour councillor Dave Shields, I’m very tempted to stand for election as a Southampton city councillor.

Far from his allegation that I’m somehow interfering, I think most Southampton residents will realise that air quality does not recognise boundaries.

There is a serious health issue here. It impacts on residents in Southampton and the people who commute into the city almost every day.

So let’s stop this silly idea that saving a bit of cash by ceasing air quality monitoring west of the city won’t have any impact.

It’s never been more important, with the long traffic queues that have been a feature of the main roads through Millbrook.

I don’t have much influence over what central Government does but I suspect that the actions I am taking, including restricting heavy goods vehicle movements, supporting cycling, challenging commercial port use at Marchwood, ensuring monitoring is maintained here in Totton, and promoting the Waterside passenger railway service will likely all deliver improvements.

If my questioning of the Labour-run city councillor has prompted a scrutiny inquiry into the city’s air quality, I’m pleased.

However, it is action that achieves results. Why, for example, stop the monitoring before the inquiry has even started?

Why not plan a joint inquiry with New Forest District Council? Come on, Labour, work with us cross-party. That would be a breath of fresh air!

COUNCILLOR DAVID HARRISON, New Forest Liberal Democrats.