Issue - meetings

To receive and note a report on the ‘Engines Off’’ campaign in the borough.

In October 2020 the Council agreed a motion that Spelthorne should be declared a No Idling Zone, however responsibility for this sat with Surrey County Council as the Highways Authority and required their support to do this.  Surrey do not consider engine idling to be a major source of air pollution.

Councillor Sexton believed that Surrey were not opposed to the proposal but that it related to a traffic order and agreed, in her role as a County Councillor, to discuss with them how this could be progressed and report back.

A poster campaign had been launched by Spelthorne in August 2021 to build awareness and encourage drivers in Spelthorne to reduce engine idling.  The Committee were impressed with the posters and asked how the response to the campaign could be measured.   Claire Lucas, Principal Pollution Control Officer, advised that the social media element was quantifiable and would be looked at after a three month period, however monitoring equipment for engine idling was not sufficiently developed or at an affordable level for the Council.

The potential link between dementia and exhaust fumes was raised and members asked if a further poster could be devised to increase awareness of this. 

The Committee resolved to note the report.

Reason for Decision:

To help achieve behavioural change amongst drivers in Spelthorne and reduce air pollution.