21 Jul 2023
Proposals to prevent pollution outside St Albans schools have been blocked for fear of starting “a war on motorists”.
The plans were announced by Liberal Democrats on Herts county council in a bid to cut air pollution that particularly affects children arriving at or leaving schools across Hertfordshire, including in the St Albans district.
They wanted to establish ‘no idling zones’ to improve the air quality, but were shot down by Conservative councillors who said they were already doing enough to tackle the issue.
Councils have had the power to fine drivers for leaving their engines running for many years and other local authorities, including Richmond and Oxford, have already taken action to prevent vehicles idling outside schools.
St Albans county councillor Chris White responded to the Conservative action: “It was a simple request – to ban idling outside schools. For reasons that are beyond me, a significant number of motorists leave their engines running when they are parked up. This includes those outside schools.
“Currently it is really difficult to enforce or even put up signs. In the debate one spokesperson for the Conservatives declared that such a move would be ‘a war on motorists’. I reposted wondering whether attempts by public health authorities to discourage smoking could be termed a ‘war on smokers’.
“There is clearly no good reason why HCC should not act on this. The county council is utterly supine on highways issues.”
