Traffic wardens will help monitor air quality around the borough by wearing air quality monitors when they are out patrolling.

As part of Richmond Council's fight against air pollution, this week for Clean Air Day (8th October), in an innovative London first, traffic enforcement officers will be wearing small monitoring devices that will report back insight at each location.

Monitoring air quality in the borough takes place 24 hours a day and accurate data on pollution and air quality is important, as it helps feed into the borough's Air Quality Action plan and shape future policies and decision making.

Clean Air day (October 8th) is the UK's largest air pollution campaign. It aims to improve public understanding of air pollution, how it affects our health and what we can all do to tackle it, helping to protect the environment and our health.

As air quality continues to exceed health standards across the Capital, the Council continues with its efforts to encourage people to use non-polluting ways to travel around the borough.

Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee for Richmond Council, said:

"Across the UK, air pollution is a public health emergency. Clean Air is a fundamental right for us all, but we face a significant threat from air pollution.

"I recognise some of the solutions to our air quality challenge may not be easy, cheap or popular – but they are required, and they are right if we are to achieve our vision for the fairer borough we want to build together.

"The new 'roving' air quality monitors, worn by our traffic enforcement officers, will help us have a more in-depth understanding of the challenge ahead and understand where our hotspots are.

"This is another example of our unwavering commitment to tackle air pollution and promote a cleaner and healthier environment for all of our residents."

Hear more from Councillor Alexander Ehmann HERE

Measures introduced in the last twelve months, include:

Improved on-street charging to encourage increase in electric vehicles

Fines for Car Idling

Free Cycling Training

15 New School Streets

11 New Cycle hangars

New Cycle Lanes

Closing Church Street to traffic in Twickenham