Wokingham Air Quality (WAQ) Project
The Wokingham’s Air Quality Project is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and is part of the My Journey Programme. The project runs from October 2020-October 2022.
The main focus of the WAQ project is to improve air quality around the Borough and promote the many benefits of active travel to primary schools and the community of Wokingham.
The WAQ project is currently working with eight schools which are located around Wokingham Town Centre and Twyford in the borough's two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA’s)
The schools who are already part of the project are Floreat Montague Park Primary School, Westende Junior School, Wescott Infant School, St Paul's Junior School, Evendons Primary School, Windmill Primary School, The Hawthorns Primary School and The Colleton Primary School in Twyford.
The WAQ schools have all got diffusion tubes around the school site which measure Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) gas. This is a harmful pollutant which is produced when you burn fossils fuels and comes predominately from transport.
The Wokingham Air Quality Project has delivered events and active travel initiatives. A very successful competition was run with The Hawthorns Primary school in Woosehill to produce an anti-idling banner. The winning design has been made into two banners and attached to the school railings to encourage parents switch of their car engines at school drop off and pick up times.
An upcoming Wokingham Air Quality event is Ditch the Car Day on Friday, 17th September in Elms Field, Wokingham. The aim of this event is to show alternatives to using the car in readiness for World Car Free day on 22nd September.
The WAQ project is run by Active Travel Officer Kathryn Horsepool who has a wealth of experience working with schools. She is keen to hear from any primary schools in Twyford who are interested in being an air quality school. Please get in touch with kathryn.horsepool@wokingham.gov.uk to find out more information.
Further information about the air quality project can be found here.