Issue - meetings

This Council notes that:

·           Air pollution poses a serious threat to the health of everyone and in particular the development of young people.  Epidemiological studies show that symptoms of bronchitis in asthmatic children increase in association with long-term exposure to pollutants, as well as stunting lung growth.

·           Our residents and visitors are exposed to unsafe levels of pollutants, particularly outside of schools at peak times in the morning and afternoon, next to taxi ranks, at level crossings and along our major roads.

·           Road transport is one of the biggest contributors to particulate matter and pollution in Wokingham Borough.

·           While many of the policy interventions to rectify this problem would have to come from central Government, this Council can do more and needs to be proactive on this issue.

·           Only a handful of areas across the country are trialling “No Vehicle Idling zones” yet they bring many health benefits, and could be introduced around the borough, particularly outside schools, taxi ranks and at level crossings.

·           It is important to provide our residents and visitors with healthier and less polluting alternatives to move about the borough, and in particular, parents taking their children to school.  Therefore, the Council should invest more in walking and cycling.

This Council resolves to:

·           Monitor the level of particulate matter 2.5 across the Borough. 

·           Review the work done on No-Vehicle-Idling nationally in other local authorities and integrate this into an Action Plan for No-Vehicle-Idling zones covering the Wokingham Borough Council area with a view to implementing No-Vehicle-Idling zones, around as many schools in the Borough as possible, by the end of 2022, and in other identified areas such as taxi ranks and close to level crossings.

·           Encourage local businesses to sponsor green walls on school buildings and tree planting near schools and the Executive Member for Environment includes this in their action plan.

·           Increase spending on active travel in future budgets, especially safe cycle lanes. 

·           Produce a strategy for implementing a car club scheme across the Borough.

Due to time constraints, this Motion was not considered.

This Council notes that:

·           Air pollution poses a serious threat to the health of everyone and in particular the development of young people.  Epidemiological studies show that symptoms of bronchitis in asthmatic children increase in association with long-term exposure to pollutants, as well as stunting lung growth.

·           Our residents and visitors are exposed to unsafe levels of pollutants, particularly outside of schools at peak times in the morning and afternoon, next to taxi ranks, at level crossings and along our major roads.

·           Road transport is one of the biggest contributors to particulate matter and pollution in Wokingham Borough.

·           While many of the policy interventions to rectify this problem would have to come from central Government, this Council can do more and needs to be proactive on this issue.

·           Only a handful of areas across the country are trialling “No Vehicle Idling zones” yet they bring many health benefits, and could be introduced around the borough, particularly outside schools, taxi ranks and at level crossings.

·           It is important to provide our residents and visitors with healthier and less polluting alternatives to move about the borough, and in particular, parents taking their children to school.  Therefore, the Council should invest more in walking and cycling.

This Council resolves to:

·           Monitor the level of particulate matter 2.5 across the Borough. 

·           Review the work done on No-Vehicle-Idling nationally in other local authorities and integrate this into an Action Plan for No-Vehicle-Idling zones covering the Wokingham Borough Council area with a view to implementing No-Vehicle-Idling zones, around as many schools in the Borough as possible, by the end of 2022, and in other identified areas such as taxi ranks and close to level crossings.

·           Encourage local businesses to sponsor green walls on school buildings and tree planting near schools and the Executive Member for Environment includes this in their action plan.

·           Increase spending on active travel in future budgets, especially safe cycle lanes. 

·           Produce a strategy for implementing a car club scheme across the Borough.