As part of National Clean Air Day, South Lanarkshire Council is renewing its focus on engine idling, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up times. The local authority is urging everyone to switch off their engines when parked to improve local air quality.
Campaign Expansion
The council’s Environmental Services team has run an anti-engine idling campaign for several years, displaying '30 Good Reasons for switching off' lamp post banners outside all schools on rotation. To enhance the campaign, some schools have held poster competitions, with the winning design turned into a railing banner.
Kirktonholme Primary's Winning Poster
Kirktonholme Primary School in East Kilbride unveiled its winning poster, created by P6 pupil Devon, following complaints about engine idling outside the school. The poster features the slogan 'Help us Breathe Easy'. Head teacher Linda Wright said: 'Our children are very passionate about protecting their environment and feel strongly that this is everyone’s responsibility. We hope this campaign will remind adults about the importance of clean air and protecting our world for future generations.'
Council Support
Kevin Carr, the council’s executive director of community and enterprise resources, stated: 'Clean Air Day is a great opportunity to encourage everyone to adopt small behavioural changes to make the air we breathe cleaner and healthier. Switching off your engine is easy and has a significant positive impact in busy urban areas, especially outside schools at drop-off and pick-up times.'
The winning banner will be placed on railings outside both exit gates. The council encourages reporting traffic pollution and engine idling to help Environmental Health teams investigate and issue fixed penalty notices to repeat offenders. Additional information is available on the Scottish Government’s Vehicle engine idling page.
