Pupil power fuels council’s plans to tackle air pollution in Leeds

Hundreds of scooters are being given to primary schools across Leeds as part of an energetic new scheme to tackle air pollution and protect the health of children in the city.

The scheme will encourage children to swap four wheels for two and scoot to school instead of being driven.

Scooters and scooter storage will be rolled out across thirty primary schools in Leeds; most are located within the Clean Air Charging Zone that will come into effect on the 6^th January 2020.

By reducing the number of cars making the school run every morning, the scheme aims to improve air quality around the primary schools and help Leeds reach national air quality targets as soon as possible.

Cllr James Lewis, Leeds City Council executive board member for sustainability and the environment said:

“This new scheme means a breath of fresh air for children in Leeds—both figuratively and literally.

“Instead of a boring drive to class, children will now be able to safely scoot to school with their friends and parents instead, which is a lot more fun!

“We’re planning to target thirty schools where we think the scheme will be most effective. However, if the scheme proves popular and successful at tackling local air pollution we could expand the scheme to even more schools.”

As well as receiving funding for new scooters and their storage, recipient schools will receive scooter training, Performance in Education workshops on air quality and a range of lesson plans which include practical experiments using handheld air quality monitors.

It comes as Leeds City Council asks drivers in the city to do their bit to help fight air pollution by turning off their engines if they think they will be stationary for two minutes or longer.

Local school children are also helping to design new anti-idling signs being erected around a number of schools across the city.

Both schemes are made possible thanks to more than £150,000 of government funding given to Leeds City Council to improve air quality in Leeds.

More information on what Leeds City Council are doing to reduce air pollution and how you can help can be found below, or on the official Clean Air Leeds website at www.cleanairleeds.co.uk

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Chad Newton

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Telephone: 01133 786007

Email: chad.newton@leeds.gov.uk