Do your bit to improve air quality and support Clean Air Day

Cheshire East Council is urging people to ‘show the air you care’ and take steps to improve air quality – to boost our health and environment.

Clean Air Day, on 16 June, will see schools, workplaces and communities across the borough and UK raise awareness of air quality and inspire people to take simple steps to tackle air pollution and help protect the environment and the health of everyone.

This year’s theme is: ‘air pollution dirties every organ in your body – so take steps to improve your health this Clean Air Day’.

Cheshire East Council is committed to improving air quality in the borough and has taken numerous actions to achieve this. 

These steps include creating active travel schemes to encourage cycling, walking and scooting in communities and locations across the borough, promoting electric and greener vehicles, producing and implementing an air quality action plan, delivering air quality talks in schools and creating a dedicated awareness page on our website. 

These actions have a real impact on reducing air pollution – but the actions of individuals and communities can have just as much impact on improving air quality. 

Everyone has a role to play in helping boost air quality in Cheshire East – and the council wants to inspire its staff, partners and local residents to take simple actions to help reduce air pollution and limit its impact on people’s health.

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee, said: “Every year, air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK. Reducing air pollution and improving the air we breathe is a priority for this council.

“Science shows us that air pollution can impact health in various negative ways – not just of the more vulnerable, but of everybody. It shortens lives and contributes towards chronic illnesses. 

“But tackling air pollution is not simply the responsibility of the council – the choices and actions and actions we take, as individuals and communities, also play a very important role in tackling air pollution.  

“We can all do something to reduce pollution to benefit our health, communities and planet. Walking or cycling short trips instead of driving are great ways to get some exercise, help everyone breathe cleaner air and reconnect with our local communities.”

Clean Air Day is a day of practical action and awareness raising, so we can all breathe cleaner and healthier air. Actions people should take to reduce air pollution include:

• Give your car a day off – Walk, cycle or take public transport to work or school, or work from home if you can;
• Don’t idle – If you drive, turn off your engine when your vehicle is stationary and it is safe to do so;
• Discover the side streets – Use quieter streets when you’re on a bike or on foot to avoid polluted main roads;
• Go electric – There are lots of ways you can travel electric. Hire an electric car, taxi or test drive an electric vehicle today;
• Only burn dry, well-seasoned wood or smokeless fuel on your stove, open fire or barbecue; and
• Create awareness by speaking to someone about air pollution and its impact on health.

Cllr Warren added: “I would urge people not only to support Clean Air Day on Thursday 16 June, but also to continue with simple pollution-reducing actions to help improve the health and wellbeing of everyone now and in the future.”  

Clean Air Day is co-ordinated by environmental change charity Global Action Plan and is supported by more than 200 councils, health institutions and universities, including the Royal College of Physicians, the British Lung Foundation and numerous NHS trusts.

Clean Air Day gives every school, workplace, hospital and residential community free access to latest advice on avoiding and tackling urban pollution, approved by health experts and academics.

More information on how to get involved in Clean Air Day.