HOMES on a stretch of road which has been deemed "one of the most polluted roads outside London" may be knocked down to help improve air quality. 

The A472 in Hafodyrynys is said to be one of the most polluted roads in Wales according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Levels of nitrogren dioxide on the road were recorded as being higher than anywhere else in the country other than central London in 2015 and 2016. 

Caerphilly County Borough Council is currently consulting on a plan to help improve air quality and have set up the Hafod-yr-ynys Air Quality Action Plan – Draft (2017).

The report has been prepared by Ricardo Energy and Environment - with some of the outline solutions proposed in the draft to improve air pollution including the council compulsory buying houses on Woodfieldside Terrace and demolishing them to prevent the pollution being "boxed in". 

One resident who has lived in one of the terraced houses for 17 years said she would be 'pleased' if the council purchased people's homes.

Gloria Matthews, 60, said: "It's not just the pollution which is a nightmare here it's the noise from the traffic as well. It's awful. You can't have any windows open even when it's boiling hot.

"I think it's going to take a long time but it wouldn't bother me if the houses were knocked down. I've had enough to be honest. As long as the council rehouse me then that's fine."

Graham Collins, another resident who lives on the road in a detatched property said he "wasn't too concerned" about the idea of the houses being bought and knocked down.

He said: "Me and my wife have lived here for five years, its rented and it is a great property. I think we are quite lucky because we live at the bottom of the road and we don't get it as bad as everyone else further up.

"Over the years the road has gotten busier and busier. I think even if you sold the houses and knocked them down then that would lead to more traffic and the problem wouldn't be solved."

Demolishing houses on the road is just one of the outline proposals listed in the draft report. Other proposals include reducing the speed limit and/or introducing a speed camera, building a one-way bypass to re-route southbound A467 vehicles and re-routing HGV traffic away from the area.

Caerphilly County Borough Council has said the matter is "subject to an ongoing consultation at the moment and a number of options are being explored".

Councillor Eluned Stenner, cabinet member for the environment and public protection, said: "With the support of the local community and our partners, we remain fully committed to doing all we can to help improve the air quality situation, and I'd encourage our residents to contribute their views on the contents of this draft action plan by taking part in this consultation."