Deal Town Council is committed to tackling air pollution.
Air pollution is a cunning opponent to tackle – it’s invisible. The air pollution you can see is bad, but the pollution that really harms us is not only invisible but odourless too. And it really kills. Air pollution is responsible for seven million early deaths every year – that’s tens of thousands of people across the UK dying from breathing our air. That’s the point really, we can’t avoid the air pollution that’s there because we can’t stop breathing.
Whilst we can’t see air pollution, we know what causes it. To help us all tackle air pollution, the Environment Committee has linked up Deal Town Council with Global Action Plan's Clean Air Hub and also become an Official Supporter of Clean Air Day.
Air pollution comes from all sorts of sources including factories, farming, shipping, chimneys and vehicle exhausts. But even small reductions in air pollution could help us to avoid new cases of disease and make everyone's life a little better. So, why not try:
- Walk, cycle and scoot more, especially using the back streets away from polluting traffic.
- Avoid unnecessary burning at home (e.g. in a stove or open fire) unless it is your only source of heat. If you rely on wood for your heating, use 'ready to burn' materials (e.g. dry wood or approved manufactured solid fuels), and try to ensure that your appliance is eco-design accredited.
- If you do have to drive, switch your engine off when you're stationary, and try to choose electric vehicles where you can.
With this last action in mind, local Primary Schools have taken part in a "No
Idling" Poster Design Competition
"No
Idling" Poster Design Competition
Below are links to more information about Air Pollution and ideas on what we can all do to improve our air.