Task force to keep our air cleaner

AN air quality task force is to be set up to improve the environment across the Liverpool City Region (LCR) including in Halton.

The initiative was approved at a meeting of the LCR combined authority on Friday.

Membership on the task force will comprise elected representatives from the six LCR local authorities and other organisations including Public Health England, academics and Merseytravel.

It is hoped the group’s work will help to drive Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s pledge to make the city region ‘ the greenest in the UK’.

Mr Rotheram said: “Poor air quality is a national public health crisis which is shortening the lives of people across our city region, and disproportionately affecting the old and the young, those who are already sick, and our most deprived communities.

“That is why we have established this air quality task force, to raise the profile of this issue and help us, as a combined authority, to improve air quality in our city region.

“I have previously called on central Government to take action in this area but we are determined to do all that we can as a city region to help clean up the air that we all breathe.”

Cllr Liam Robinson (transport and air quality for the LCR) said: “We are already taking action, through practical measures, such as making it easier to walk and cycle safely, helping schools with travel planning and rolling out low-carbon vehicle technology, such as more car charging points.

“However there is more that we can do, particularly around transport, as nitrogen dioxide from vehicles is the main pollutant affecting people’s health.

“While we will do everything in our power to tackle air pollution we also need action from central Government through measures such as vehicle scrappage schemes and funding for behaviour change programmes.”