Trains and taxis blamed as Sheffield Railway Station is named one of most polluted places

Friends of the Earth highlighted the rank as one of the worst places for harmful pollutants - above four London locations.

It came second in a top ten of sites with the highest annual average nitrogen dioxide levels.

Coun Bob Johnson, Cabinet member for transport at Sheffield Council, said: "One of the most significant ways of improving the air quality at the station is the electrification of the Midland Main Line and the replacement of the diesel trains.

"It is therefore disappointing that the Government previously cancelled the planned electrification of the Midland Main Line, something that still remains a key feature in the Sheffield City Region Integrated Rail Plan.

"We are also planning for the introduction of a Clean Air Zone, which would also go towards reducing pollution throughout the city by incentivising drivers to buy cleaner vehicles.

"The zone would charge the most polluting diesel vehicles, while offering grants and support for drivers who chose cleaner vehicles, such as electric taxis."

Sheffield Green Party said the station's air quality was a serious concern.

Coun Douglas Johnson said: "I would like to see serious improvements to the taxi queuing system to stop vehicles running their engines continuously.

"This is something within local control, unlike national changes to railway rolling stock.

"We also want to see improvements so that people don’t feel they have to drive to the station – simple things like better cycle access and parking and gritting the forecourt in icy weather.”

The Liberal Democrats said there needed to be three changes to tackle the problem.

Coun Tim Huggan, Shadow cabinet member for environment said: "The railway station being a pollution hotspot comes as no surprise for anyone having the misfortune to breathe the air whilst using it.

"We need to have newer less polluting trains rather than old diesel engines. Taxis have to switch over to newer, less polluting engines and the council needs to have an action plan to deal with the pollution near to the station caused by the high vehicle traffic movements on and near the ring road. This includes active travel measures with plenty of safe bike storage near to the station."

Friends of the Earth said 1,360 monitoring sites across England exceeded the annual average air quality target of 40 micrograms per cubic metre of air for nitrogen dioxide in 2018, the most recent year for which data is available.

The 10 sites with the highest annual average nitrogen dioxide levels are:

- Chideock Hill, West Dorset 97.7

- Station Taxi Rank, Sheffield 91.7

- North Street Clock Tower, Brighton 90.8

- Neville Street Tunnel, Leeds 88

- Strand, City of Westminster 88

- Walbrook Wharf, City of London 87

- Hickleton opp Fir Tree Close, Doncaster 86

- Marylebone Road, City of Westminster 85

- Euston Road, London Borough of Camden 82.3

- Hickleton, John O'Gaunts, Doncaster 82