Redbridge to improve air quality with Clean Air grant

Redbridge is all set to install measures to help improve the air quality of the borough thanks to funding from the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. The borough has secured £100,000 from the Clean Air Fund, which has been set up as part of the Air Quality Strategy.

The Clean Air Fund was established by the Department for Transport to address the levels of air pollution within the capital and to improve the overall air quality. Although the majority of London is currently meeting with the European Union's air quality targets, some areas do not perform as well. The £5 million fund has been set up to help areas throughout London reduce the negative impacts of poor air quality and to improve health in the city.

The £100,000 that has been awarded to Redbridge is to be spent on air quality improvement projects over the course of a three-year period. Between 2013 and 2016 the money will be used to fund projects at two schools in South Ilford. The schools have not yet been selected but it is intended that the projects will all help to improve the overall air quality of the area.

One of the projects that is to be funded is the creation of green walls. The green walls are simply sections of buildings that are covered with plant life; this can be created on both a small and large scale. The plants help to improve air quality by absorbing nitrogen dioxide emissions - which have been linked to a number of health issues - and so have a purifying effect.

Green screens and tree planting are also planned to be included in the projects, helping to absorb other emissions that can be detrimental to the environment - such as carbon dioxide - whilst producing oxygen. Alongside these green projects, educational campaigns will also be run in order to inform parents, children and staff about air quality. Campaigns will give advice as to how emissions can be reduced and any actions that can be taken to limit exposure to possible harmful emissions.

The schools should be selected over the next six weeks now that funding has been allocated to the borough.

 

Published 23rd July, 2013

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