The Clean Air Fund

The UK has consistently failed to meet its EU air quality limit values and is now at risk of being fined for breaching air quality standards.

The Department for Transport has recently awarded Transport for London (TfL) £5 million to fund immediate work towards improving London’s Air Quality.

TfL are exploring a range of measures that will help to reduce level of pollutants. Full details of their plans are available on the GLA’s website.

TfL are working with alongside boroughs to develop and implement air quality improvement measures in a number of ways, including:

• Tackling idling: through improving information, education and signage. TfL have recently introduced a system (via phone and website) for the public to notify them where idling is a problem.
• On 10 January 2012, a London wide marketing campaign was launched to raise awareness of the problems caused by engine idling and to encourage all drivers to switch off whilst waiting, loading or parked at the roadside.
• Dust suppressants: Following successful trial by TfL into the effectiveness of dust suppressants on some of London’s most polluted roads, the programme has been rolled out to further areas including roads around industrial and construction sites.
• TfL will work with borough officers to refresh Sub-Regional Transport Plans where necessary to help reduce NO2 levels in locations across London where emissions are particularly high.
• A trial to test the effectiveness of plants to reduce pollution has seen the introduction of 50 planted towers, 500 street trees and a 200 square metre green wall at pollution hotspots