Projects to tackle vehicle idling and bonfires win government funding
The government has announced the latest recipients of its Air Quality Grant, with 16 authorities sharing £2.2m on projects that improve air quality.
Councils to benefit include Canterbury City Council who has been awarded £156,377 for an anti-idling campaign along a school route, Leicester City Council who has been awarded £124,081 for a project that maps particulate matter in the area and Southampton City Council who has been awarded £60,100 for a targeted awareness campaign focused on domestic burning and summer bonfires.
Over £64m has been awarded through the Air Quality Grant, which was launched in 1997.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said: ‘While air pollution has reduced significantly in recent decades, we know the impact that it continues to have on communities in the UK. That is why the government is committed to not only improving air quality on a national level, but also helping local authorities take action in their own areas.
‘The projects supported by this latest round of funding demonstrate how local authorities can deliver innovative solutions for their communities and we’ll be working with them closely to offer ongoing support.’
A full list of the authorities awarded funding is below, courtesy of Defra.
| Blaby District Council | Active travel programme aimed at schools and large workplaces | £123,378 |
| Canterbury City Council | Anti-idling campaign along school route; installation of fast electric charging points | £156,377 |
| City of York Council | Encourage take up of electric taxis through behaviour and awareness campaign | £105,000 |
| Colchester Borough Council | Study on effectiveness of anti-idling campaign and Traffic Light Countdown feasibility study | £59,785 |
| East Herts Council | Enhancement of pedestrian subway that bypasses a dual carriage way to encourage active travel. Working in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council | £54,000 |
| East Sussex County Council | Schools education, awareness and active travel programme and temporary street closures during the school run. Working in partnership with West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Crawley Borough, Lewes, and Adur & Worthing Councils | £81,900 |
| Islington London Borough Council | Particulate Matter data gathering and mapping study using street mapping and portable air quality monitors | £10,995 |
| Leicester City Council | Particulate Matter data gathering and mapping study using 3D Global GEOS-Chem models | £124,081 |
| Oxford City Council | Trial of a low-cost mobile Automated Number Plate Recognition enforcement system | £150,000 |
| Sheffield City | Schools education, awareness and active travel programme and temporary street closures during the school run. Working in partnership with Barnsley, and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Councils | £144,430 |
| South Buckinghamshire District Council | Feasibility study | £52,500 |
| Southampton City Council | Targeted behaviour and awareness campaign focussed on domestic burning and summer bonfires. Working in partnership with Winchester, Eastleigh, and New Forest Councils | £60,100 |
| Transport for West Midlands | Retrofit of at least 20 buses to Euro VI. Working in partnership with Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Cannock Chase, North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Redditch, Rugby, Shropshire, Stratford on Avon, Tamworth, Telford and Wrekin, Warwickshire Councils | £340,000 |
| Warrington Borough Council | Encourage take up of electric taxis through behaviour and awareness campaign. Develop low emission taxi strategy. Install rapid charge points | £87,350 |
| Westminster Cross River Partnership | Expansion on Clean Air Village 1&2 Projects – engagement and behavioural change project to reduce emissions from the delivery of good and services for businesses, hospitals and communities. Partners include 12 London Boroughs: Westminster, Camden, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Wandsworth, City of London Corporation and the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea; and 4 Business Improvement Districts: Angel, London, The Fitzrovia Partnership, North Bank and South Bank | £573,370 |
| Wokingham Borough Council | Active travel behaviour and awareness campaign for children, parents and teachers | £150,101 |