Council joins Clean Air Day
Dudley Council is promoting Clean Air Day in June by encouraging people to walk or cycle to work and school, or to work from home when possible.
The local authority, which formally adopted its first Climate Action Plan in March, will highlight the importance of the national awareness day by lighting the council house in green on Thursday 20 June.
The council’s action plan sets out how it plans to be net zero by 2030. The action plan includes electric car charging provision, with the authority preparing to install its first batch of on-street residential charge points this summer.
The first phase of the EV project, funded by the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles, includes the installation of approximately 45 sites, with double charging points to support residents without off-street parking.
It also reinforces the council’s commitment to active travel, and the local authority is currently working a key transport project along the A4123, near Canal Tunnel Trust, with new cycle and pedestrian crossings as well as segregated cycle paths being installed.
Councillor Paul Bradley, deputy leader and cabinet member responsible for climate, said:
“Dudley Council declared a climate emergency in 2020 and we hope to become a carbon net zero council by 2030.
“The World Health Organisation and the UK Government recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental health risk we face today and we must take steps to improve our local environment.
“Green travel, such as walking, cycling or using public transport, or working from home, can have a significant impact on a person’s carbon footprint and reduce air pollution.
“Our council works closely with its partners to develop increased walking and cycling routes across the region, and we are currently delivering a key active travel scheme to enable more people to walk and cycle in Dudley.
“The council has also supported the West Midlands Cycle Hire in Stourbridge, offers local cycle training and continues to support the delivery of Metro and associated active travel links.”
Residents can find out more about Clean Air Day, including ideas of how to take action in their area, by visiting https://www.actionforcleanair.org.uk/campaigns/clean-air-day
For more information about Dudley Council’s Climate Action Plan people can visit www.dudley.gov.uk/climate