Henley is arguably one of the most pleasant towns in the country. The rolling River Thames, the Chilterns back drop, the attractive Market Place and the high level of independent retail outlets make it a joy to live in and to visit.

But there is a growing problem that needs attention now. Increased traffic congestion in the town is leading to increasing levels of air pollution, in particular elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide in some streets.

HRG councillors Barry Wood and Allan Follett have led a campaign to join together Town, District and County Council to help tackle this problem by using OCC funding to create an awareness campaign through a dedicated Henley Air Quality Website www.henleyairquality.com. This gives information on the problems facing our town and what we can all do to help reduce air pollution.

With road traffic levels expected to increase in Oxfordshire by 25% in the next two decades, air quality will remain a very important issue. That is why it is being tackled now through a partnership between Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and Henley Town Council.

The website is devoted to explaining what the problem is, what is being done about it, and most importantly of all, how you can do something to help.

Making positive choices with small changes to your lifestyle – such as walking instead of driving short distances to work or to your children’s school – will impact favourably on air quality and on your own health and wealth, as we will demonstrate in these pages.

Air pollution is not a new problem. Thankfully we no longer suffer the thick smog from factory chimneys and coal fires. Today, however, we face new issues in keeping the air we breathe clean.