BRADFORD Council is launching its no idling campaign across the district’s primary schools.

The campaign, called We Care About Clean Air, aims to raise awareness of the harmful impact of air pollution on children’s health, and to encourage drivers to switch off their engines outside the school gates.

Parents are being encouraged to leave the car at home and walk, cycle or take the bus to school with their children wherever possible. If they do need to drive towards their child’s school, they are being asked to make sure they switch off their engines when parked near the school gates – or park some distance away from the school gates as an easy way to get more exercise and make schools safer.

The campaign has been developed following discussions with local parents, school children and teachers to help understand the issue and what can be done to prevent idling.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, portfolio holder for Healthy People and Places, said: “We know that air pollution is harmful to health, and some groups such as young children, the elderly and those with long term health conditions are particularly vulnerable to it’s effects.

“This campaign will help our schools and local communities to understand how they can work together to make the air cleaner for our children.”

Idling - or leaving the engine running while a car is stationary - causes air pollution to build up inside the car, as well as in the surrounding environment.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, portfolio holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said:

“School drop off and pick up times can be stressful for families, with poor air quality and congestion caused by too many cars in a small area. Switching off your car’s engine when it’s stopped is a simple change that anyone can do to help improve air quality around schools.

“For those able to do more, finding alternative ways of getting to school can have multiple benefits for health. Even parking five minutes walk away from school can increase your physical activity over the day, as well as making the school environment cleaner.”

Primary schools are being encouraged to sign up to the campaign to receive free resources and information on how to get involved by visiting Bradford Schools Online.

Air pollution is linked to over 200 early deaths a year across the Bradford district and can cause asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke and other respiratory diseases.