Liberal Democrats call on Oldham Council to cut engine idling with new campaign

Liberal Democrat councillor Alicia Marland has written to Oldham Council pushing for a new campaign to combat engine idling outside Oldham’s schools. 

Councillor Marland, who represents Saddleworth West and Lees Ward, said, “Air pollution threatens our health and our environment.  The impacts of poor air affect our health from cradle to grave, with research showing that children, pregnant women and pensioners are among those most impacted.”

“Leaving your engine idle, even for 30 seconds, causes more pollution than turning it off and back on again.  This is a big problem at the school gate.”

Research conducted by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Select Committee has noted the association of air pollution with health implications such as complications in pregnancy, increased risk of respiratory infections in children, increased risk of cardio-vascular conditions, as well as increased rates of dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions. 

According to Transport Research Laboratory, an engine left idling for 30 seconds produces nearly twice as much pollution as switching off and then restarting an engine. 

Councillor Marland called on Oldham Council to follow other local authorities like Stockport and Sheffield and launch a campaign to combat engine idling at the school gate. 

Councillor Marland said, “The council should be doing more to tackle this problem.  This is our children’s health and wellbeing after all.  There are lots of ideas out there.  In Stockport, schools are given a banner to hang outside the school to raise awareness.  In Sheffield, signs are used alongside digital campaigning tools to get the message out.  Oldham Council should learn from what is working elsewhere and put it in place for our schools.”