Colchester Borough Council has been awarded £248,700 by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to reduce pollution and make Colchester’s air cleaner and safer for residents and visitors.
The funding, announced on 10 March 2021, supports the Council’s drive to improve local air quality, and it is the third consecutive year it has been successful in securing funding for clean air work.
The innovative new project will see the trial of two shared sustainable transport hubs, giving residents access to electric club cars and a range of electric and electric cargo bikes. The aim is to encourage the take up of low emission transport and provide a viable alternative to car ownership.
Research carried out by shared mobility charity ComoUK found that car club members reduced their annual mileage by 793 miles and car club cars across England and Wales produced 43% less tailpipe emissions than the average UK car.
Councillor Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Environment and Transportation said: “I am really pleased that we have been awarded this significant investment. This builds on the success of the previous funding and comes as recognition of our ability to deliver positive action and get things done.
“I am looking forward to seeing the projects progress and it is a key step towards our strategic aim of reducing carbon emissions in Colchester; helping to improve our air quality and our resident’s health and wellbeing.”
In addition to the electric transport hubs the project will see the Council’s CAReless Pollution campaign run for another year, encouraging people to switch off their engines when stationary which can reduce pollution by up to 30%1. There will also be a winter campaign tackling air pollution caused by wood burning and encouraging the take up of cleaner fuels.
The project forms part of the Council’s work to tackle the climate challenge. The Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, making a commitment to reaching zero net carbon emissions by 2030. In 2020, a Climate Emergency Action Plan was developed, outlining key actions to ensure sustainability and decrease carbon emissions through services and partnerships.
Page last reviewed: 15 March 2021