By Ben Kerrigan-
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has unveiled a fresh injection of £5.3 million into the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund. This funding boost aims to empower London boroughs to implement innovative projects that will reduce air pollution at the local level.
Borough councils will have the opportunity to apply for a share of this funding starting from January.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
The Mayor’s Air Quality Fund, which has previously disbursed approximately £22 million, has already supported initiatives such as the creation of ‘low emission neighbourhoods’ in Becontree and Walworth.
It also initiated the London-wide Idling Action campaign, involving 17,000 students who designed banners and took other actions to discourage drivers from leaving their engines running.
Additionally, the fund has played a pivotal role in the installation and upgrading of over 400 electric vehicle chargers, the creation of more than 3,000 square meters of green spaces, and the installation of over 1,300 cycle parking spaces throughout London.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
Mayor Sadiq Khan emphasized the importance of addressing air pollution in the city, stating:
“Air pollution in our city is damaging Londoners’ health, and I am determined to do all I can to tackle it. We’re looking for the next generation of ambitious, local, innovative projects to improve London’s air quality – so I encourage boroughs to get their thinking caps on, consider partnering up, and apply for this financial support by January 19, 2024.”
The Mayor is also urging boroughs to collaborate and propose joint projects, building on the success of previous pan-London initiatives. The new round of projects is expected to commence by April 2024.
This marks the fourth round of funding announced as part of the scheme and is the first since the onset of the pandemic. City Hall cited the example of a low emission neighborhood in Camden, which delivered an estimated 28% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions under a previous funding round.
This achievement was attributed to the installation of 19 electric vehicle charging points, improved pedestrian crossings, three cycle lane schemes, and the introduction of dockless cycle hire bays and cycle hangars.
The new funding complements the Mayor’s other ambitious air quality achievements, including the London-wide expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in August 2023.
However, the ULEZ expansion has sparked controversy, with some critics, including Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall, labeling it as a “tax grab” and arguing that it disproportionately affects those on lower incomes due to the daily £12.50 charge for non-compliant vehicles.
Recent data from the ULEZ expansion indicates a 45% reduction in non-compliant vehicles, specifically older and more polluting vehicles, on London’s streets compared to June 2023. Nonetheless, Mayor Khan acknowledges that it will take a year to gather concrete data on the expansion’s impact on reducing air pollution.
The additional funding for air quality projects reaffirms London’s commitment to combatting air pollution, ultimately aiming to create a cleaner and healthier environment for its residents.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar