Westminster has been awarded funds to create a Marylebone Low Emission Neighbourhood scheme to help improve air quality for residents. The award comes from the Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund and will be match-funded by the council and private sector partners to introduce new measures, including:A new building energy efficiency scheme
- Improving public realm spaces and creating greener spaces
- Introducing play streets for families to enjoy
- Vehicle delivery plans to reduce traffic
- Increasing patrols by ‘Air Marshals’ to enforce "no engine idling"
- Engine idling Action days when volunteers ask drivers to switch off engines when stationary
- Piloting a dedicated and bookable electric vehicle charging point scheme
Marylebone suffers some of the highest pollution levels in London, given the area’s location, mix of land uses, building density and type, and number of vehicle trips. Its location between major transport routes results in a complex urban air quality problem with levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) that exceed recommended health levels and very high levels of particulate matter (PM). This is particularly concerning given the number of young families, schools, universities, businesses and medical facilities in Marylebone.
Other areas in Westminster also suffer from high pollution and the Low Emission zone funding builds on the efforts launched in 2015 to enforce ‘no engine idling’ in at hotspots across the city.
Heather Acton, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Parking said: “I am delighted that our proposal has been successful. It is a true community partnership. We now look forward to putting the proposals into action, creating a cleaner, greener Marylebone, and replicating the successful measures across Westminster'.
