Parents leaving their engines running outside an Essex school could be hit with fines as part of major plans to finally slash air pollution surrounding the A127, it has been revealed. Southend Council has launched a survey with residents on plans to improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions from vehicles along a stretch of the A127 from the Bell junction to Victoria Avenue.
As part of the survey, a number of initiatives have been revealed including fining idling parents and drivers close to St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, off Victoria Avenue in Southend. Other plans include making up to £100,000 available to provide council staff with electric cars for “private and business use” and retrofitting 26 buses to meet emission standards.
A “living green wall” acting as a “natural air filter” was previously installed at St Mary’s School, on Boston Avenue, as well as huge signs saying “Cough! Cough! Engine Off!”.
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Lydia Hyde, councillor responsible for climate, environment and waste, said: “There are positive ideas such as the top priority idea to retrofit 26 of our buses with cleaner fuel systems, which is very welcome. The idea of greening around schools targets action where it is most needed, and we’ve already seen the success of the living wall at St Mary’s.
“This is something we should seek to work with more schools to introduce. We have an anti-idling campaign around our schools and have the power to issue penalties there where appropriate, but beyond that there is no plan to monitor or penalise idling on any main routes.”
The council will also focus on providing green areas around the city, improving public transport and encouraging car sharing parking discounts, cycling and walking. A “Green City Action Plan” will also see trees planted to provide cooling, leafy canopies around the city.
Jon Fuller, spokesman for South East Essex Friends of the Earth said he believes the plan doesn’t go far enough. He said: “I’m concerned that the Bell Junction action plan is not sufficiently robust.
“We welcome proposals to upgrade the bus fleet and deter idling of car engines. We also welcome wider policies to encourage walking and cycling. But there is a desperate need to embrace car reduction measures. We need to embrace eco-tourism, encouraging day trippers to get on the trains and buses.”