Council brings schools together to combat air pollution

7 June 2018

Cllr Richard Livingstone, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport Management and Air Quality, brought together 11 Southwark schools, for the council’s new Cleaner Air for Southwark’s Schools network meeting, on 5 June.

The new Cleaner Air for Southwark’s Schools network met for the second time, this time in Parliament, at the invitation of Helen Hayes MP. Helen talked about the importance of pulling together to combat a problem that is for the good of all, explaining how she believes that stopping engine idling and introducing a vehicle scrappage scheme would help to improve air quality. She also encouraged the group to form and work with local action groups to help bring about change at both local and national levels.

Amy Foster, from Bessemer Grange, talked about how her school held a whole school bike trip every May, with the smaller children heading to Dulwich Park to practise and learn with the Cycle Confident team. She was passionate about tackling air quality and road safety together and explained how Bessemer Grange has monthly road closures after school on a Friday, to create a play-street outside their school.

Kimberley Hickman, from Goose Green School, explained how they secured funding and installed green screens around their school, inspiring help from parents, local businesses, the council, local MPs and many others. She spoke of the school's Eco Warrior children, their Gardening Club and plans to work toward achieving even better air quality.

Cllr Livingstone said: "We heard inspiring stories about some of the excellent work that is happening in Southwark’s schools to improve air quality for children in the borough. It was great to see that schools want to pull together and help one another and I look forward to supporting their efforts. I would encourage all Southwark schools to sign up and come along to future meetings.”

Page last updated: 07 June 2018