Agenda item

The Council's Environmental Specialist updated Members on some of the actions from the last meeting of the Committee.

In relation to concerns expressed regarding the poor air quality caused by wood burning in the Borough, it was reported that DEFRA advice on this would be posted on the Council's website.

Regarding Heathrow Airport, Members were informed that discussion would take place to ascertain what measures were being used to mitigate against poor air quality.

For this witness session, Members were provided with information from the Council's Transport & Projects Senior Manager and Anti-Social Behaviour and Environment Team Manager.

School Travel Plans and Road Safety Education, Training and Publicity' team

The Committee was provided with details of the work carried out by the Team in relation to School Travel Plans and on Road Safety Education, Training and Publicity. This area was particularly pertinent to the review because of the air quality issues caused by traffic during school "drop off" and "pick up" times, as previously mentioned. 

The work of the team, centred around providing cycle training to children and adults, pedestrian training to young children and the "moving on" initiative to pupils (for those moving on from Year Six into their secondary schools).

As a form of engaging with young people, there were 140 Junior Road Safety Officers, 47 Mini Road Safety Officers and 50 Youth Travel Ambassadors.

The Committee discussed the possibility of addressing the issue of air quality close to schools with schools directly and engaging with school children representatives in an attempt to raise awareness and educate on changing travel habits.

Discussion took place on School Travel Plans and it was agreed that further work was required on some of these. However, it was noted that enforcement of some of the detail contained in Travel Plans was the issue, particularly around the travel behaviour of parents driving children to school.    

Motorcycle and Pedal Cycle Road Safety

As previously reported, the promotion of safer cycling would be a measure to reduce vehicular movements and reduce the poor air quality caused by motor vehicles. The Committee was informed that working alongside the Road Safety Team, officers worked with a company called '2WheelsLondon', who went into workplaces to promote safety for those riding powered two wheels and those riding pedal cycles.

Reference was made to the possibility of using footpaths for cycling and Members were informed that footpaths had to be of a sufficient width to make this viable. In addition there needed to be work carried out in terms of potential conflicts of pedestrians and cyclists on particular footpaths.  Reference was also made to the possible use of canal towpaths for cycling.

Vehicle Emissions

Discussion took place around vehicle emissions and the Committee was informed that an officer would be invited to the next meeting to talk about the Council's Fleet Management and the use of electric vehicles.

In relation to Public Transport, Members were informed that the Council was working with Transport for London (TfL) and London Buses on moving to lower emission buses. 

TfL had started to deliver on the plan to introduce around 3,000 Ultra Low Emission double-deck buses in central London by 2019 and over 250 Zero Emission single-deck buses into central London by 2020. These buses would significantly improve air quality, helping people breathe cleaner air. It was hoped that these buses would be rolled out to outer London.

The Committee was informed that residents would be able to identify and avoid buying the dirtiest diesel and most polluting petrol cars and vans with a new emissions scoring scheme introduced by the GLA. There was a new online 'cleaner vehicle checker' which would include test results for new car and van models on the market. This could encourage residents who were purchasing vehicles to check emissions and be actively involved in terms of reducing emissions and enabling them to make an informed choice.

Discussion took place on measures which could be introduced relating to traffic and air quality and reference was made to the use of 20 mph zones, which were popular in central London. Signage could also be an option, which could indicate air pollution levels at particular hotspots.

Diesel / Petrol Vehicles

Discussion took place on the impact of both diesel and petrol vehicles in terms of emissions and that diesel vehicle were more polluting than petrol cars. Officers reported that some local authorities offered differentiated car parking charges for different vehicle types and it was agreed that information be brought to the next meeting of the Committee on this.  

Liveable Neighbourhoods

The Committee was informed of the Liveable Neighbourhoods programme which gave London Boroughs the opportunity to bid for funding for long-term schemes that encouraged walking, cycling and the use of public transport. Grants were provided of between £1m and £10m for a wide range of community-supported projects, which included creating green spaces and cycling infrastructure, redesigning junctions and widening of walking routes. These initiatives would mitigate poor air quality. 

The schemes would reduce car trips and therefore improve residents' health and local air quality.

Reference was made to the work carried out at Hayes Parade in terms of trees used as green screens, which could be used in new developments to help improve air quality.

"No Idling"

The Committee was informed that Idling was where motor vehicles were parked, but with the vehicle's engine running whilst it was stationary. This occurred in some instances, outside of schools waiting for children. In Hillingdon this was a particular issue near Heathrow Airport and in Heathrow Villages, where there was a problem with taxis idling, with engines running.

Idling increased the amount of exhaust fumes in the air and under the Public Space Protection Order the Council prohibits parked cars with their engines running. The Council last year, had issued over 300 Penalty Charge Notices for this offence.

Part B Applications for Permit to Operate a Dry Cleaners Process 

The Committee was informed that under Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Control, Dry Cleaning businesses had to apply for permits to operate. Dry cleaning used chemicals, such as perchloroethylene (perc), which contributed to air pollution and could be harmful to human health. The Anti-Social Behaviour and Environment Team Manager reported that he would provide a short paper on this for the next meeting of the Committee, together with information on other possible areas of environmental protection which could be explored under these powers.  

RESOLVED –

1.    That the witnesses be thanked for the evidence submitted and the information be used as part of the review.

2.  That officers be asked to provide the information outlined above, together with inviting relevant witnesses to the next meeting of the Committee.