A REVOLUTIONARY scheme to divert traffic out of York's most polluted areas is set to be introduced.

It would be one of the first systems in the world to constantly monitor air quality, and actively move traffic away when it reaches dangerous levels.

Pollution hotspots where nitrogen dioxide measurements had already exceeded Government set limits were highlighted by City of York Council earlier this year.

They are Gillygate and Bootham, Holgate Road, Foss Islands Road and Price Lane, which joins Nunnery Lane and Bishopthorpe Road.

Coun Derek Smallwood, the council's executive member for the environment, said: "The plan is to have monitors around the city measuring air pollution, and have them linked up to a messaging system. "When the monitors show pollution levels getting high, we can divert people away from that area."

Although it is not yet confirmed how traffic would be diverted, Coun Smallwood said the system could post up advice requesting that people avoid certain areas.

"It might even control traffic lights which determine where traffic goes," he said.

Peter Evely, the council's head of highways regulation, said full details of the scheme were not yet ready to be disclosed because discussions were still continuing.

Updated: 11:33 Thursday, September 06, 2001