Healthy Air Manifesto for Leicester
For the first 18 months of our campaign, we focussed on raising awareness of air pollution. Now, we are calling on Leicester City Council to adopt the following policies to reduce air pollution.
Healthy Air Manifesto for Leicester
Air pollution contributes to respiratory illnesses, heart disease and cancer. It causes an estimated 250 premature deaths per year in Leicester. Recent research has also linked it to Alzheimer’s disease. We want to live in a city where the air is clean and does not damage anyone’s health. Reducing the overall level of motor traffic is the most effective way to tackle air pollution, reduce climate change emissions and create a renewed sense of community.
We, the members of the Healthy Air Leicester and Leicestershire Alliance, are calling for the council to take the following urgent steps to protect our right to breathe clean air:
2. Establish a Low Emission Zone to require buses operating within the inner ring road to meet the Euro 6 standard for emissions.
3. Conduct a feasibility study into building a tram and/or trolleybus system in Leicester to provide pollution-free (at point of use) mass transportation. Encourage investment in electric buses.
4. Require that black cabs and private hire vehicles meet the Euro 6 emissions standard to hold a licence to operate in the city.
Reduce the number of trips by private motor vehicles
5. Exclude polluting freight vehicles from within the inner ring road during the busiest times.
6. Co-ordinate the prices of bus tickets, park & ride bus tickets and car parking to ensure that public transport is always a cheaper option than using a private car to come into the city centre.
7. Establish a Workplace Parking Levy to charge employers who provide workplace parking. Re-invest any money raised through this scheme in public and active transport.
8. Set 20 mph speed limits on all residential roads to encourage cycling and walking.
9. Re-allocate road space to more sustainable forms of transport, such as active and public transport.
Education
10. Run a campaign to make car drivers more aware of cyclists and improve their safety.
11. Raise awareness of air pollution to help vulnerable people to reduce their exposure and encourage people to change their behaviour to reduce their contribution to the problem.
Remove pollution
12. Plant more trees in Leicester, especially alongside roads.
Healthy Air Manifesto for Leicester
Air pollution contributes to respiratory illnesses, heart disease and cancer. It causes an estimated 250 premature deaths per year in Leicester. Recent research has also linked it to Alzheimer’s disease. We want to live in a city where the air is clean and does not damage anyone’s health. Reducing the overall level of motor traffic is the most effective way to tackle air pollution, reduce climate change emissions and create a renewed sense of community.
We, the members of the Healthy Air Leicester and Leicestershire Alliance, are calling for the council to take the following urgent steps to protect our right to breathe clean air:
- Set ambitious targets to reduce the number of journeys made in polluting vehicles and to double the proportion of local trips made by foot, bike or clean public transport.
2. Establish a Low Emission Zone to require buses operating within the inner ring road to meet the Euro 6 standard for emissions.
3. Conduct a feasibility study into building a tram and/or trolleybus system in Leicester to provide pollution-free (at point of use) mass transportation. Encourage investment in electric buses.
4. Require that black cabs and private hire vehicles meet the Euro 6 emissions standard to hold a licence to operate in the city.
Reduce the number of trips by private motor vehicles
5. Exclude polluting freight vehicles from within the inner ring road during the busiest times.
6. Co-ordinate the prices of bus tickets, park & ride bus tickets and car parking to ensure that public transport is always a cheaper option than using a private car to come into the city centre.
7. Establish a Workplace Parking Levy to charge employers who provide workplace parking. Re-invest any money raised through this scheme in public and active transport.
8. Set 20 mph speed limits on all residential roads to encourage cycling and walking.
9. Re-allocate road space to more sustainable forms of transport, such as active and public transport.
Education
10. Run a campaign to make car drivers more aware of cyclists and improve their safety.
11. Raise awareness of air pollution to help vulnerable people to reduce their exposure and encourage people to change their behaviour to reduce their contribution to the problem.
Remove pollution
12. Plant more trees in Leicester, especially alongside roads.