Fines Loom for Idling Your Engine Outside a School

Published on: 27 Mar, 2019
Updated on: 27 Mar, 2019

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

Parents who wait outside schools in cars with their engines running face fines, in the 10-point plan Guildford borough and county councillors have developed to improve air quality.

The scheme, to be implemented over the next year, was approved by a joint committee on Wednesday (March 20, 2019).

The council is planning an anti-idling campaign, including installing signs around schools warning parents of the harm they are doing by idling the engine.

Guildford has one air-quality management area (AQMA)  covering a small section of B3000 The Street in Compton where nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels were found to be higher than the government’s national levels.

Action could include fixed penalty notices and campaigns to educate and promote anti-idling at level crossings, schools and town centres. The council will also explore the possibility of legislation and enforcement on bonfires.

When an AQMA is declared, the local authority must produce an action plan within 12 months. Compton AQMA was declared on February 1, 2018 but there has been a delay in confirming government guidelines. The action plan is to be presented back to the joint committee on July 3

The 10 ways to reduce pollution, set as the Guildford Joint Committee Air Quality Priorities 2019-20

• Air-quality behaviour change/modal shift. Produce a communications strategy on behaviour change that provides continuous messaging to include activity on “national clean air day”;
• Wood-burning stoves. Produce educational materials on wood-burning stoves to circulate with GBC council tax bills in 2020 and through other media channels;
• School travel. Implement travel plans, communication to schools, school watch, DEFRA bid for school project, assemblies and workshops in schools;
• Bonfires review. Explore bonfire legislation and opportunities for regulatory enforcement;
• LAQM and AQMA. Review the annual status report and local monitoring results, review progress with production and implementation of action plans for AQMAs;
• Anti-idling campaign and action. Install anti-idling signage, campaign to educate and promote anti-idling, explore introduction of fixed penalty notice for idling;
• Adoption of bus lanes with enforcement cameras. Implement joint committee agreed recommendations to prioritise buses in the town centre;
• Cycle scheme. To keep under review;
• Easit Guildford. Review implementation of green travel network; and
• Electric vehicle-charging. Promote installation of an electric vehicle-charging network.

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