Restore air quality grants, says CIEH

The body representing environmental health officers (CIEH), has called for the urgent restoration of funding to tackle air pollution after the government decided to withdraw the air quality grant scheme. Awarding more than £90 million to councils since 1997, a further £6 million was planned this year.

"This is an alarming move by the Government, backsliding on its commitment to tackling air pollution,” said CIEH executive director Louise Hosking. “Air pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to public health. Our members work at the front line in tackling local air pollution, and they should be supported with the necessary resources, adequate staffing, and additional inspection capacity to enforce restrictions and reduce pollution.”

The institute called on the government to reconsider and “protect the millions who breathe toxic air each day”.