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Teesside is shaking off its "smoggies" tag with above average air quality.

That was the verdict of members of the Stockton health and wellbeing board this week after figures showed the borough was better than national standards.

Particulate matter in the air in Stockton is lower than the national average.

And a report prepared for Wednesday’s board meeting showed Stockton had a “consistently good air quality” compared to national aims on the back of a review 20 years ago.

Barry Coppinger, Cleveland’s police and crime commissioner, was pleased with recent readings.

(Image: Teesside Live)

The Labour commissioner said: “It’s great that we’ve got such good air quality in Stockton and I’m sure on Teesside as well.

“It’s ironic people call us smoggies - this is an industrial area but we have much better air quality than some parts of the leafy south

“I remember Middlesbrough had better air quality than Windsor where the queen lives.

“We sometimes get stereotyped and I always feel offended when we’re criticised for being smoggies because I think we do a good job with air quality.”

Council meetings in neighbouring Middlesbrough have also heard how air quality in the town is “good” with pollution decreasing and levels below EU limits.

Despite the low levels, small amounts of pollution can still cause health problems for asthma sufferers.

But Steve Donaghy, environmental health chief at Stockton Council, said there was now a much better understanding air quality now then when he started work 20 years ago.

He added: “We understand the public health context and understand the impacts oxides of nitrogen actually have - particularly moderate and less intense levels.

“We continue to work with partners to make sure we maintain that and improve.”

The officer said Stockton had never had to become an “air quality management area”, unlike Newcastle where the city council is considering introducing a “clean air zone” to reduce pollution.

Stockton monitors air from three locations as well as a network of nitrogen dioxide monitors dotted throughout the borough.

Rows over air monitoring have regularly cropped up in Yarm after equipment was moved from its High Street home to Egglescliffe School.

The town ranked in the top 10 of most polluted areas in 2005 for car exhausts and industry but has since improved.

Cllr Jim Beall, cabinet member for culture, leisure and health, was pleased with the council’s performance but stressed it wasn’t complacent about the future.

He added: “We’re aware that air quality has a major impact on the health and wellbeing of our population - we did set up a group and some time next year it will report back on the progress made on moving the bar even higher than what’s required from central government targets.

“We recognise that more could be done to remove some potential hazards.”