Wokingham’s Air Quality Project is part of the My Journey programme and focuses on improving air quality around the borough. Working with schools, community groups, and stakeholders, the Air Quality Project delivers a series of one-off events, active travel initiatives, campaigns, and provides educational resources. The project has been funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and will be managed and is delivered by the Air Quality Active Travel Officer, Kathryn Horsepool. The project is running from October 2020-October 2023 with the aim of increasing active travel and behavioural changes around improving air quality in the Borough.
The main focus of the WAQ project is to improve air quality around the borough and promote the many benefits of walking, cycling and scooting to school. The project is currently working with schools that are nearby or within the borough’s Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA), where air pollution is higher. The new schools for this academic year are Emmbrook Junior School, St Teresa’s RC Primary School, Winnersh Primary School, Wheatfield Primary School, Charvil Piggott Primary School and Gorse Ride Junior School. Schools that are continuing with the project are Floreat Montague Park Primary School, Windmill Primary School, Nine Mile Ride Primary School and The Colleton Primary School in Twyford.
For further information on the My Journey Wokingham Air Quality Project (WAQ) please click here.
For further information on DEFRA monitoring of air quality across Wokingham Borough please click here.
The Dangers of Engine Idling - 2 December 2022
We have seen from the NO2 monitoring data we have gathered at our air quality schools, that levels of NO2 pollution increase during the winter months, as more parents/carers are using the car for the school run.
The Royal College of Physicians estimate 40,000 deaths a year in the UK are linked to air pollution, with engine idling contributing to this (visit the Public Protection Partnership website for more information).
The Government is working to address the issue as a whole, but what can you do to help the situation?
If you are a parent/carer of a school age child, please can you always turn off your car engine when dropping off and picking up your child(ren) from school.
Please also see the links to the walking and cycling maps and the link to the primary schools page that contains all the school travel maps, which have been tailored to each individual school, that you may want to this include in your parent newsletter
- https://www.myjourneywokingham.com/cycling/cycle-maps/
- https://www.myjourneywokingham.com/walking/walking-maps/
- https://www.myjourneywokingham.com/schools/primary-schools/
- https://www.myjourneywokingham.com/schools/primary-schools/emmbrook-junior-school/
For further information on the My Journey Wokingham Air Quality Project (WAQ) please click here
For further information on DEFRA monitoring of air quality across Wokingham Borough please click here
Anti-Idling Banners - Parent Survey
The DEFRA funded Wokingham Air Quality project and the My Journey team have supplied anti-idling banners to your school before the easter holidays and I hope you all agree they look great. We are required by DEFRA to evaluate the impact of the Wokingham Air Quality project and send quarterly reports back to DEFRA, we love receiving your feedback as we seek to continually improve the project for future schools.
To assess the impact of the anti-idling banners would therefore like to ask you to complete this survey.
Please see attached the link to the survey for you to complete Wokingham Active TravelBanner Survey – as an added incentive parents who share their email address will be put into a prize draw to win a £25 decathlon voucher, the deadline for submitting the survey is Tuesday 18th July.
Idling Facts:
- Running your car engine while your vehicle is stationary is known as idling
- An idling engine can produce up to twice as many exhaust emissions as an engine in motion.
- Exhaust emissions contain a range of air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter.
- These can affect the air quality of the surrounding environment and the air we breathe.
- Air pollution causes several health problems and is recognised as a contributing factor in the onset of heart disease and cancer.
- It particularly affects the most vulnerable in society: children, the elderly, and those with existing heart and lung conditions.
- It is linked to about 40,000 deaths a year in the UK, with engine idling contributing to this.
Thanks once again for being a 22/23 Wokingham Air Quality School.
Wokingham Bikeathon Sunday 11th June 2023 and My Journey Bling your Bike competition
- We are currently running a “Bling you bike for the King” competition and have some special Silver Commemorative Coronation coins and other prizes to give away. The closing date for this is 4th June, so people could send in their entries over half term, if not before. Details are on our website at: https://www.myjourneywokingham.com/events/bling-your-bike-for-the-king/
- The Wokingham Bikeathon will be taking place on Sunday 11th June starting/finishing from Cantley Park, Wokingham, RG40 5QG. The Bikeathon is a great family-friendly event which also raises money for local charities (All profits from the entry fees are donated to charity.) This year there will be a choice of 4 routes: 15 miles, 25 miles, 35 miles and a new 51 mile route – all signposted with drinks/toilet stops along the way. Entry is FREE for children under 12 years (£5 for 12 – 18 year olds) and all children under 12 will receive a free eco-medal at the finish (sponsored by My Journey.) For further details and registration see the Bikeathon website: https://www.wokinghambikeathon.co.uk/
- Mini- Bikeathon ride by Kidical Mass – Our friends at Kidical Mass are going to run a special shorter “mini Bikeathon” ride for families and younger children this year, starting from the Bikeathon events field at 10.00 am on 11th June. This ride will be approximately 2 miles in length using the traffic-free cycle paths around Cantley Park. Parents or a responsible adult need to accompany children on this ride. See poster attached.