I SYMPATHISE with your correspondent P J O'Connor ("It's traffic pollution misery", April 3), who is experiencing at first hand the problems created by poor air quality.

Improving local air quality is one of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority's top priorities. Poor air quality is linked to a whole range of problems including respiratory disease and additional problems for asthmatics. A key part of our air quality strategy is to reduce the pollution created by buses travelling around the county.

This year alone the Authority will spend over £300,000 on clean vehicle grants to bus companies. These grants are being used to fit particulate traps to around 100 buses in the county. The traps represent the latest state of the art technology and are a proven method of reducing black smoke emissions by up to 90 per cent. They are easy to maintain and also save bus companies money by allowing them to obtain a "Reduced Pollution Certificate", which entitles them to claim reduced vehicle excise duty.

This investment has secured over £1 million of Government grant which means we can ensure that all new contracts that are let for subsidised bus services in Greater Manchester are operated by buses fitted with particulate traps. We intend to continue to provide money each year for fitting particulate traps to older buses and are aiming to have half the buses in Greater Manchester fitted within three years.

The Authority will also insist that modern, cleaner buses will run on our Quality Bus Corridors, including in Bolton. While we have little control over the type of buses run on other commercial routes, we will work in partnership with operators to introduce new technology and build it into their criteria when they buy new vehicles.

All forms of road traffic contribute to the air quality problems that P J O'Connor highlights and of particular concern is the sheer volume of traffic on our roads.

Measures such as bus lanes are designed to improve the efficiency of public transport and therefore encourage car users to switch to buses wherever possible. The longer term result of this will be that overall traffic levels reduce and local air quality improves. I hope that P J O'Connor and all your readers will recognise that we are continuing to work hard to improve air quality both in Bolton and across the county.

Councillor Guy Harkin

Bolton Spokesperson

GMPTA