Maria Miller MP joined up with Hatch Warren Infant and Junior Schools and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to promote the Clean Air Basingstoke and Deane initiative, raising awareness of air pollution and how all residents can do their bit to reduce pollution.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has produced car stickers designed to encourage drivers to switch off their engines while they are stationary. The stickers were given to the Hatch Warren Schools, to hand out to parents and staff.
Last year, Hatch Warren Junior School took part in an air quality study led by My Journey Hampshire in which they monitored air pollution at sites around the school, and found the air quality was generally good. They learned about the effects of air pollution and the steps that everyone can do to help reduce it. Since then the schools have worked hard to come up with more sustainable ways of getting to school, including a Park and Stride scheme.
Basingstoke and Deane Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services and the Environment Cllr Hayley Eachus said: “Vehicles are the main source of air pollution, so I would encourage everyone to think about how you might be able to use your car less. But when you need to drive, please think about how you’re driving. Idling contributes to toxic emissions in the air we breathe both inside and outside your car. This is a particular issue outside schools, as we find that a lot of parents will leave their engine idling while waiting to collect their children. Simply switching your engine off and on again will help to reduce air pollution.”
Maria said: “We all need to take responsibility for protecting and improving our air quality in Basingstoke, and everyone can play their part in this.”
“This is why I helped to launch the Clean Air Parents’ Network, with the British Lung Foundation, in Parliament last year, and why I recently visited another school air quality project session and the Breathe Easy health support group, to help raise awareness of air quality in our town.”
“This is also why I am supporting the Borough Council’s Clean Air Basingstoke and Deane initiative. The car stickers are a great reminder to drivers to turn off their car engines when they are stationary, which really helps to reduce air pollution.”
For more information about Clean Air Basingstoke and Deane, and tips about how you can make a difference, visit https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/clean-air.