WESTBURY is being choked by an extra 19,000 vehicles passing through the town every day.

More traffic is travelling through the town along the A350 because of road works on the A36 at Limpley Stoke, creating pollution problems and jams, especially at rush hours.

Cllr Adrian Fox, West Wiltshire District Council's portfolio holder for the environment, said: "I'm concerned about the levels of emissions while this work is being done and I have asked officers to monitor the air quality.

"I know it is only a short-term problem but there can be serious health consequences.

"High emissions can have long-term health effects or could trigger acute attacks like asthma."

Concerns have already been raised about poor air quality in Westbury.

The district council has been monitoring air quality across the district, including levels of carbon monoxide, benzene and lead, since 1998.

Last year its environmental health report found that air quality in the district was generally good, but pollution levels in Westbury were a cause for concern.

Air quality management areas have been set up in Haynes Road and Warminster Road.

High pollution levels detected in these areas have to be reduced by 2005 to meet government guidelines.

Cllr Fox said: "If traffic levels continue to grow like they are then the levels will exceed the statutory limits."

Councillors and pressure groups have said that a bypass could be the only way of reducing pollution.

But funding for the controversial bypass was put on hold last December while the Government took a closer look at the region's road network.

Cllr Fox said: "A bypass for Westbury is on the agenda, and it is the best long-term solution to the poor air quality in Westbury."

Until the work on the A36 is finished in three months, vehicles are being diverted at Warminster onto the A350 towards Chippenham and will then either continue towards Bath along the A4 or on the A350 to the M4. Southbound vehicles will use this route in reverse.

Local northbound light vehicles can also use the B3110 between Woolverton and Bath.

Long distance northbound drivers are being advised to use the M3, A34 and M4.

Signs are in place on major routes to warn vehicles about the road works and multilingual information has been distributed at ports.