S6 Ep3 - Air Pollution in Twyford

The RG10 Podcast - featuring the people, places and events of interest across our area of the Thames Valley

As is the case at many busy junctions, there's something in the air at the Twyford crossroads, and it's not good. The centre of the village has high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - over 40 micro milligrammes per cubic metre, which is detrimental to health. For the most part this is attributable to emissions from engines idling at the traffic lights.

This is nothing new: the junction was designated an Air Quality Management Area back in late 2015. The Public Protection Partnership monitors NO2 levels regularly and reports the findings to Defra.
WBC's Active Travel Officer, Kathryn Horsepool - part of the My Journey team. She talks about the Wokingham Air Quality Project and the work being carried out with schools such as the Colleton to promote active travel. This means encouraging more children to walk, cycle or use a scooter instead of being driven to school. The children also get involved in monitoring air quality around the school gates at peak times.

As for the situation at Twyford crossroads, Kathryn highlights the campaign to encourage drivers to switch off engines instead of idling at the traffic lights. There is signage on lampposts, but more work is being done to raise awareness in order to change behaviour. There is a role for local businesses to play in this.

https://www.myjourneywokingham.com/

More information:
The project's targets are to:
- Achieve a 3% reduction in the number of children driven to school
- Work with 10 schools in the target areas to promote and deliver activities relating to air quality, active travel and climate change
- To work with 6 target schools to achieve Modeshift stars accreditation and monitor the Air Quality.

The Public Protection Partnership's last Annual Status Report sent to Defra, including actions to reduce air pollution around Twyford crossroads:

https://publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk/media/2439/wokingham-air-quality-annual-status-report-2021.pdf

Download the My Journey team's free active travel rewards app, encouraging sustainable travel among WBC residents aged 14+. Earn rewards and prizes in ValleyCoins and ValleyTickets, whether you walk, wheel, cycle or catch the train or bus. ValleyCoins can be redeemed for high street rewards or donated to your favourite charity.

https://www.innovationvalleyrewards.co.uk/

Wokingham Borough Council is in the process of developing its Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) with the help of public consultation in order to prioritise improvements to paths and other infrastructure over the next 10 years. Consultation closes 19 August 2022.

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