Bolton Council wants Government help to meet air pollution targets.

But campaigners have different opinions on the problem and say council leaders are looking at the problem through blinkers because of their stance.

The council says it cannot meet Government targets to reduce pollution without help from Whitehall because poor air quality is caused by emissions from cars, which is a national problem.

But two organisations from either end of the environmental spectrum agree that cars are not the biggest problem.

A spokesman for the RAC said: "While it is true that emissions are too high in localised areas where traffic is highest, it is not true that this all comes from cars. They are responsible for just 17 per cent of vehicle emissions in the UK as a whole -- the rest comes from heavy lorries and buses.

"Councils seem to concentrate on the private motorist, but if they banned cars from the road altogether they would still miss the Government reduction target. They are looking at the problem through blinkers, not at pollution as a whole."

And Friends of the Earth, while still wanting to see less cars on the road, agree with the figures.

A spokesman said: "Our policy is to see a decrease in the use of fossil fuels and an increase in public transport.

"However, because of the low percentage of pollution from cars the main emphasis has to be on getting heavy transport off the roads and onto the railways.

"We also say that public transport must be looked at urgently."

The Government takes the view that emissions overall have to be looked at.

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "Air pollution has many different causes -- cars, lorries, buses, industry and domestic premises. No council can simply pick on one cause because all contribute and many are related.

"If, for instance, a council fitted all its homes with double glazing then the use of fossil fuels in the home and for the home would drop; a free park and ride scheme would ease the problem a little more; a time ban on heavy lorries delivering into a town centre makes a difference and even planting more trees within a town centre to soak up carbon dioxide helps."

Bolton Council, which has set up an air quality management area, says that the poorest quality in the town is found around areas of large car use -- the M61, the town centre, Farnworth, Burnden, Halliwell, Deane and Derby ward-- and that Government pollution targets are unrealistic unless ministers allow them to ban cars.

Cllr Joseph Higson, Executive member of Environment Scrutiny said: "Most of this pollution comes from cars and the worse offenders are the M61 and A666. The only way you can reduce emissions is by reducing congestion."

Another side of the problem has already been highlighted by the council. The move towards traffic calming measures increases emissions by slowing vehicles down and forcing them to use lower gears.

But Cllr Guy Harkin, Executive member for Environment, said: "If you have seen a child knocked down and killed as I have you do not worry about emissions. I would rather have the emissions than a child killed."

Although local figures for asthma sufferers are not available the national Asthma Campaign puts the blame for the rise in the disease squarely onto the rise in atmospheric pollution.

A spokesman said: "Our figures for 2000 show that there were 5.1 million people in this country suffering from asthma compared to 3.4 million in 1999. That is one adult in 13 and one child in eight."

It is a difficult situation for everyone: motorists, councils and the Government. What do you think? Is there a solution? Write to: Letters, Bolton Evening News, Newspaper House, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE. David Pearlman, of the National Motorists Union, said: "We are not against reducing pollution but we do ask for a level playing field.

"For instance, in some towns where cyclists predominate it has been found that they cause extra pollution by slowing down motorists and causing them to use a lower gear.

"In others, where heavy transport is banned during rush hour, cars can travel in higher gears and pollution is, as a result, reduced. That's despite the same number of cars and the same number of lorries and buses being around. It is just a matter of sensible management."