Thursday 20 June is Clean Air Day and the Public Protection Partnership, which delivers Environmental Health, Licensing and Trading Standards services across West Berkshire, Wokingham Borough and Bracknell Forest councils, is encouraging residents and businesses to take action to improve air quality across the three local authorities.
Air pollution is associated with a number of adverse health impacts and can be a contributing factor in the onset of heart disease and cancer. Additionally, it particularly affects the most vulnerable in society, children and older people, and those with heart and lung conditions.
A focus on protecting the district's environment is a priority in the Council's new strategy for 2019-2023. With a theme of maintaining a green environment the strategy sets out a number of improvements which will reduce air pollution. These include commitments to:
- Develop more sustainable transport solutions which protect the environment
- Promote and improve cycle ways in the District
- Develop opportunities and expertise to take advantage of the production, storage and utilisation of green energy and
- Minimise the impact on the environment in delivering services such as the use of assistive technologies in social care.
Everybody can have a positive impact on air quality and the PPP wants to encourage residents and businesses across West Berkshire to understand what they can do to help reduce air pollution and limit its impact on their health and that of others.
Cllr Hilary Cole, Chairman of the Joint Public Protection Committee, said: "A very simple and effective way to improve the air quality in our district is for more of us who live and work here to use public transport. We offer a good range of public transport across the West Berkshire and you can find out about transport near you by logging onto Transport in West Berkshire - your one stop destination for travel information and advice in and around West Berkshire. Alternatively, why not consider walking, cycling, or even buying an electric car?"
"On Clean Air Day, in particular, we want to get the message across that everybody can have a positive impact on air quality and we want to encourage residents and businesses across West Berkshire to use alternative means of transport which will help to reduce air pollution and limit its impact on their health and that of others."
