Clean Air Day action by council
Staff commit to pollution-reducing efforts
Stirling Council has pledged to clear the air by committing its support to a cross-regional vehicle emissions scheme.
Wednesday’s Observer reported how the council was considering the ability to issue penalty notices for drivers who sit with their engines running, with officials and councillors remarking that it was a particular issue outside local schools.
Now, as part of its drive to improve air quality throughout the region, the council is supporting Clean Air Day by announcing it has joined the East Central Scotland Vehicle Emissions Partnership to help raise awareness of the damage caused by idling engines in Stirling.
By joining the partnership, which includes a coalition of East Lothian, Falkirk, Midlothian and West Lothian Councils, the local authority are seeking to play their part in reducing air pollution by: encouraging drivers to switch off their engines when parked up and waiting (idling), reducing the numbers of idling vehicles in Stirling, and drawing attention to the health risks of continued idling.
The council say there is an overall trend of improving levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) across the Stirling Council area, with latest monitoring results producing no recordings above air quality objective levels, and by joining the partnership the council are aiming to continue this improving trend.
To mark Clean Air Day, council staff have made pledges to commit to doing one thing that will help reduce air pollution. This could be anything from leaving the car at home for one day a week and cycling to work instead, or walking to the supermarket instead of getting in the car.
Environment and housing committee chair Councillor Jim Thomson said: “By joining the vehicle emissions partnership we want to make people think about the importance of clean air and the impact that air pollution has on our health.
“By switching off their car engines, road users can help ensure a healthier environment and reduce air pollution across Stirling. It is less polluting to turn an engine off and restart it after a minute, than it is to leave it running.”
Vice convenor Councillor Danny Gibson said: “We were the first council in Scotland to sign a Sustainable Development Agreement with SEPA last year and there are also simple things we can all do to improve air quality, as air pollution is causing serious harm to millions of people each year.”
John Bynorth of Environmental Protection Scotland, which is coordinating Clean Air Day, said: “Our campaign aims to encourage people to leave their vehicles at home and cut down on vehicle engine idling. Around 65 per cent of car journeys in Scotland are for trips of 3.1 miles or less.”
Tory councillor, Bryan Flannagan welcomed the move, but suggested it was ironic given council plans for the Viewforth Link Road.
He said: “We should all turn our engines off at every opportunity and minimise car use wherever possible, but we do have to question councillors going on about this while advocating a new link road that will increase emissions right through a major residential part of the city.”
We want to make people think about the importance of clean air