ELECTRIC car charging points could finally be installed in streets across the city as the council looks to put together its long-awaited strategy to tackle high levels of pollution.

Worcester City Council is still looking at whether it would be possible to install the electric car charging infrastructure and where they would be best suited as part of its formal plan to improve air quality.

Despite agreeing to create the city-wide air quality management area (AQMA) almost a year ago, the city council now has to create an 'action plan' on how it will improve the city's poor air quality before putting it out to the public for consultation some time next year.

The majority of the the plan comes from discussions held between councillors in 2017.

Councillors had also recommended the council looks at air quality specifically when it looks at health and safety - something it does not yet do - when it is developing every council policy, drawing up reports, making formal decisions and during the development of key projects.

The city council is also looking at buying pool low-emission cars for its staff whilst also looking at the possibility of introducing an emissions standard for the city's taxis within the next six months.

The measure would mean cabs across the city would be forced to adhere to stringer requirements before they were granted a licence.

A city-wide AQMA was formally declared in the summer after councillors agreed to revoke the three existing air management areas in St John's, Dolday and Lowesmoor and Rainbow Hill last December.

High levels of pollution have regularly been registered in some of the city centre's busiest streets including London Road, Foregate Street, The Tything, Castle Street, The Butts and Sansome Place with congestion fumes blamed for the poor air quality.

Local authorities are required to monitor air quality in its area and to declare an AQMA when national objectives are not met or unlikely to be met.

As nitrogen dioxide levels exceeded the national target of 40mg/m2 for three consecutive years, the city council was forced to respond.

An update will be given at the council's licensing and environmental health committee next Monday (December 9).