Idling motorists being targeted in clean air strategy

PARENTS leaving cars running on school runs and householders lighting log burners in winter were among the issues raised by councillors in efforts to improve air quality.

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

A campaign to deter motorists from idling is among the measures which Stockton Council is taking, with anti-idling equipment to be fitted to new council vehicles in an “anti-idling strategy” to tackle emissions.

Educational patrols will be carried in 'hotspot locations' like schools, taxi ranks and coach drop-off points, and 17 patrols have already talked to 140 drivers at primary schools.

Council bosses say Stockton already has good air quality, and they have agreed 42 measures to improve it further until 2030.

The authority plans to speak to people from residents, businesses and schools to bus operators, taxi drivers, farmers and allotment holders to raise awareness and “encourage behavioural change”, including looking at ways to encourage cabbies to buy hybrid and electric cars, while buying more electric vehicles itself and scaling down its own fleet.

Stephen Donaghy, the council’s environmental health service manager, said they were monitoring, reporting and raising awareness of air quality in response to the Environment Act 2021 and a policy shift in central government.