Redbridge Awarded over £320,000 to fund clean air initiatives

Redbridge Council has been awarded £323,774 to help reduce air pollution to make the borough’s air cleaner and healthier for local people. 

The funding, announced on 9 February 2023 by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), will support the Council's drive to improve air quality in the borough.

The money will fund several initiatives, encouraging and supporting local people and businesses to take part in active travel schemes. The funding will bolster information and knowledge about Redbridge's air quality, focusing on children and vulnerable groups who are particularly susceptible to poor air quality. 

Monitoring air pollution is crucial to understanding the risk that poor air quality poses. The funding will increase the number of Breathe London air quality monitors across the borough while enabling the Council to develop interactive air quality maps using data gathered by the community. The additional money will also help deliver cycle training and additional school cycle storage for pupils and parents. 

Cllr Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Civic Pride, said: " It’s crucial that we do all we can to improve air quality which we know has a critical impact on people’s health, particularly our most vulnerable residents – children and the elderly. We're already doing a significant amount of work in Redbridge to improve air quality for our neighbours. A great example is the introduction of clean air zones, known as School Streets, which are being rolled out at schools across the borough.

Cllr Jas Athwal, Leader of Redbridge Council, said: "Reducing exposure to poor air in Redbridge is a crucial part of our commitment to building a better, greener, cleaner, safer and healthier borough in which to live, work and visit. We also want our neighbours to play their part in reducing pollution, and this funding will allow us to reach more local people than ever and support them to make greener journeys in Redbridge."