Drive less and join us on Clean Air Day

People are being encouraged to walk and cycle more and drive less for this year’s Clean Air Day.

This year’s Clean Air Day runs on the 8 October as part of the nationwide movement to encourage people to become involved in improving air quality.

Cllr Tim Valentine, cabinet member for environment at the council, said:

“If everybody walked or cycled for just one of their journeys each week, we could begin to really improve the air quality around the borough.

“We want each person to feel empowered to make a small change that can help us all to breath cleaner air.

“Every small choice we consistently make really does make a difference.

“Last year we planned how we would improve air quality across the borough, especially in our air quality management areas (AQMAs) including engaging consultants to review options for a Clean Air Zone on the A2 among a range of other measures.

“Over the last year we’ve seen air quality improve in East Street and Teynham and declared new AQMAs in St Paul’s Street and Keycol Hill.

“We also introduced anti-idling legislation this summer giving our environmental wardens additional powers to issue fixed penalty notices to people who leave their engine running unnecessarily.

“We already have an anti-idling campaign in action at three local schools as part of our clean air for schools campaign, so the introduction of this legislation will allow us to extend this campaign across the borough.

“We’ve seen an improvement in air quality this year as people stayed home more and we encourage people to continue the good work and walk, cycle and use public transport wherever possible to help us provide cleaner air for the borough.”

For more information about what we’re doing to improve air quality across the borough visit www.swale.gov.uk/news-and-your-council/air-quality2.

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