Airwatch Campaign

Research carried out by the council shows that local people rate air quality as a priority issue, but it also reveals there are lots of myths and misinformation that lead people to believe the borough suffers from poor quality air.

Air Watch vehicles The Airwatch Campaign was launched in June 2003 with the aim of informing the residents about air quality in Ellesmere Port and Neston and dispelling these myths. The truth is air quality in the borough is little different from neighbouring towns.

We started with a launch presentation to residents within the town centre and a mail-shot where every household in the borough received a letter telling them the facts about local air quality.

The key features of the campaign being-

The launch of an Airwatch Helpline, which people can phone to get more information about air quality or report air pollution issues. The phone line is also promoted on the council's fleet of gas-powered vehicles.

The helpline number is 0151 356 6633. The line is staffed 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Outside these times callers can leave their details and officer will get back to them.

The issue of a set of information leaflets which address the various aspects of air quality that concern local residents, copies of which are available from local libraries and doctors' surgeries or you can download them by clicking on the table below:

To read these leaflets click below (they may take several minutes to download). Acrobat Reader

The launch of the Airwatch section within the council's website. The council's Airwatch pages have been consistently ranked as some of the best in the country since its launch in back in June 2003, with ongoing improvements to the site and the provision of more information.

The campaign is organised by the borough council in partnership with Ellesmere Port and Neston's Local Air Quality Forum and is funded by the Epicentre Partnership. The Air Quality Forum (AQF) is made up of representatives of the council, Environment Agency, local industry, Kiosk the health authority, residents and pressure groups, clicking on the link below you can get more information the AQF, about its make up, its decisions and the minutes of the meetings.

Since then more features have been added -

The placement of two Public Display Units (PDU's) within the town. These are electronic display boards that link to our air quality database and so allow real-time data to be displayed. The information is scaled in line with the government's health-banding scheme helping those susceptible to air pollution with their own management of their conditions. The PDU's also promote more general information about air quality such as how to improve fuel consumption and so create fewer emissions when driving.

The placement of a dedicated touch-screen kiosk located in the main foyer of the council offices. Members of the public can access pages from the council's website and the default home page is the air quality page. The aim is to provide internet access to people who might not necessarily have it. The touch-screen / keyboard is also at a height where it can be accessed by wheelchair users.

The final part of the Airwatch Campaign's "Learning the Message " has been the launch of the Whitby Park Air Quality Trail. The council in partnership with the Community Air Quality Forum and Groundwork Wirral commissioned artist, Steve Des Landes, has worked with pupils from five local schools to challenge the common misconception that Ellesmere Port has poor air quality. The trail is the result of this work and aims to educate local people on how air quality is constantly monitored and how to spot environmental indicators of clean air within the park. Click on the following link below for more information and to download the Map of the trail:- Air Quality Trail

Follow the link below to return to the main air quality page-

Air Quality - Airwatch

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Airwatch Campaign