24 projects to improve air quality to receive £1 million fund
New projects around the UK have been awarded a share of this year's Air Quality grant focusing on reducing emissions from road transport.
A £1 million fund has been awarded to 24 local authority projects designed to improve air quality in their area as part of this year’s Air Quality Grant Programme.
The Grant Programme for 2014/15 has focused on supporting projects set up to tackle nitrogen dioxide levels and mitigate emissions from road transport.
Successful projects include £40,000 to upgrade cycle and pedestrian links across the A458 in Dudley; £21,820 on cycling infrastructure in Cheshire; £20,800 to promote electric vehicles in Bristol and £31,000 to build a business case for gas buses in Leicester.
Environment Minister Dan Rogerson said:
Air quality has improved significantly in recent decades and local authorities play a vital role – funding these great projects across the country will help them to continue this good work. I look forward to seeing how these projects will deliver real benefits for communities across England.
Other examples of projects receiving funding include £50,000 to trial converting container stacking machines from diesel to natural gas in Southampton; £31,320 on subway improvements in Hertfordshire and £29,100 on cycle path upgrades in Watford.
It is hoped this grant will help reduce air pollution and raise awareness of the ongoing work between the UK government, local authorities and the European Commission to further improve air quality.
Awards given in the 2014-15
| Local Authority | Project Description | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council | Upgrading cycle and pedestrian links across the A458 | £40,000 |
| Bradford | Development of Low Emission Strategy Guide | £35,000 |
| London Borough of Croydon | Co-ordination of Cleaner Air Champions (including personal exposure monitoring) across 6 boroughs | £51,838 |
| Wandsworth Council | Investigation – analysing air quality monitoring and licence plate recognition data | £48,000 |
| Birmingham City Council | Modelling to build evidence base for measures | £32,443 |
| Westminster City Council | Installation of electric vehicle charging points in car club bays | £128,800 |
| Southampton City Council | Trial to convert container stacking machines in port from diesel to natural gas | £50,000 |
| Southampton City Council | Using wireless air quality monitoring to develop traffic management software | £30,000 |
| Bristol City Council | Purchase an electric vehicle for everyday council use and promote electric vehicles | £20,800 |
| Slough Borough Council | Develop a Low Emission Strategy with Air Quality & Planning Guidance | £42,000 |
| Thurrock Borough Council | Micro-simulation study of interventions at junctions in highly-congested areas | £43,418 |
| Leicester City Council | Business case for gas buses | £31,000 |
| Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council | Business case for alternative fuels for Heavy and Light Goods Vehicles/buses for Merseyside | £40,000 |
| Bristol City Council | Investigation of freight options in potential Low Emission Zone | £30,000 |
| Leicester City Council | Temporary reallocation of road-space in busy inner city area | £32,000 |
| Cheshire West & Chester Council | Development of Low Emission Strategy | £40,200 |
| Cheshire East Borough Council | Cycling infrastructure | £21,820 |
| Plymouth City Council | School behaviour change programme - to encourage anti-idling of vehicles and greener forms of transport for the school run | £11,761 |
| East Herts Council | Subway improvements | £31,320 |
| Cannock Chase Council (covering benefits for multiple authorities) | Green fleet recognition scheme for Heavy Goods Vehicles – across 8 Local Authorities | £80,000 |
| Plymouth City Council | Low Emission Zone Feasibility Study for Plymouth | £21,000 |
| Watford Borough Council | Cycle path upgrade including infrastructure improvements | £29,100 |
| Halton Borough Council | Quantify and mitigate air pollution caused by local traffic around a major supermarket in the area | £9,500 |
| London Borough of Islington (joint-bid with LB Hackney) | Reducing pollution from mini-cabs by creating an electric charging network | Final amount to be confirmed |
| Total | £1,000,000 |