Surrey Pupils Warn Parents About Dangers of Engine-Idling at Schools

Published on: 21 Jun, 2019
Updated on: 28 Jun, 2019

Pupils from Hurst Park Primary School with members of London Sustainability Exchange and Surrey County Council safer travel team. Photo LDR

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

Children have been telling parents waiting to pick them up at Surrey schools to turn their engines off as part of a campaign to improve air quality.

Pollution levels near playgrounds at dozens of schools are causing concern with many parents arriving up to 30 minutes before lessons end and keeping their engines running.

Five schools started an anti-idling campaign this week to highlight the dangers. Dozens more are raising awareness to coincide with Clean Air Day on Thursday, June 20.

At Hurst Park Primary School in West Molesey children went out on the streets to educate adult in waiting cars. Days ago, children tested air pollution inspections and found high levels of nitrogen dioxide just outside the gates and on the main road outside the school.

Cars also line Freeman Drive to access the car park at the back of the school next to the school playground and playing field.

The gates open at 3pm. The playground and field are used till end of school at 3.15pm. But cars start to line up outside homes from 2.30pm, about 30 vehicles stretching back and onto Hurst Road.

Deputy head Lee Beresford said: “Our Year 4 children measured the pollution levels and the two main areas were at the front of the school and in the drop-off zone where pollution levels were just below the legal limit. [A way] to keep those levels down is to make sure when parents do come by car [they do] not sit there idling.”

As part of the campaign, on Tuesday children from Year 4 and Year 6 held workshops with the charity London Sustainability Exchange to learn about the dangers of engine-idling near a school before heading out to quiz parents.

They asked every adult sitting in a car whether they were aware of the dangers and told them the impact they were having. Drivers were offered stickers to put in their cars.

Jack Alexander, who delivered the programme, said: “Asthma cases are much higher and much more common in polluted areas. We wanted to engage with parents and get them involved with the children to stop them idling outside and reduce pollution.”

Pupils said they wanted to help adults understand that sitting in a car with the engine running was affecting the planet as well as their health.

“When you idle it’s affecting your lungs, brain and heart,” said nine-year-old Emily Knight. Luca Farina, nine, said children who live in polluted areas grow up to have less lung capacity.

And Sahar Sangsari, nine, said: “We went around smiling and waving at people to get their attention. Then we were asking did they know about idling. We gave them a bumper sticker and a leaflet to give them more information.”

Surrey County Council (SCC) launched the Schools Air Quality Programme in October 2018 using funding from the DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Air Quality Fund.

The programme aims to reduce air pollution near targeted primary or secondary schools in or within 2km of an AQMA (Air Quality Management Area).

Edward Cowley, from SCC safer travel scheme who was also at the anti-idling campaign, said: “We are trying to get parents to think about when they are picking up and dropping off their children if they can make small changes such as switching off their engines.”

Parent Amy Cherry turned up with friend Kerri Rogerson to collect her child. She said: “We did actually learn quite a bit from that. I’m really surprised to know having the engine on can affect children’s breathing and people in general.”

Thursday, June 20 is national Clean Air Day and in July schools have been invited to an air quality focus summit.

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