AIR pollution is the silent killer claiming an average of five lives a day in Wales.

We are only a few months into 2017 and a road in my constituency, Hafodyrynys Road, has already exceeded the European Union’s yearly air pollution limit. The road, which bears an unfortunate distinction as the most polluted British road outside of London, has breached the limit over 60 times.

This pollution has devastating effects on an individual’s health, with children, the elderly and those suffering from chronic illnesses being most at risk. Long-term effects can be fatal, leading to an increased threat of cancer, heart disease and other respiratory disorders including asthma.

According to Public Health Wales (PHW), air pollution is at least partly responsible for 2,000 deaths each year, second only to smoking. This is a public health crisis. Action must be taken.

Clearly there must be a solution. Half of the residents of Hafodyrynys would rather see their homes destroyed than continue to live on the road.

When coming up with solutions we must think about the wider problem. Diesel fuelled cars and particularly HGVs are a main catalyst of increased pollution levels. The tax reduction on diesel fuelled engines in 2001 is also believed to be a key contributor.

In 2009, Gordon Brown’s government launched an initiative which gave financial incentives to scrap older, more polluting vehicles in favour of newer, greener and cleaner vehicles. I believe this scheme should be brought forward again.

This is not just a problem in Wales. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) say that air pollution contributes to 40,000 early deaths across the UK each year. They believe the use of public transport, electric and hybrid cars over petrol and diesel fuelled could help to combat this.

Earlier this year I asked the Prime Minister during PMQs what she will do to incentivise the use of cleaner energy especially in HGVs. She responded saying that ‘more needs to be done’ in regards to encouraging the use of cleaner energy, but it remains to be seen what ‘more’ means.

We need to know what the government plans to do to incentivise the use of greener vehicles over diesels and other high polluting engines. What is certain is that if action is not taken soon and pollution levels are not reduced, the health impacts and death toll will only rise for the residents in affected areas.

Christopher Evans, Member of Parliament for Islwyn