Air quality and what you can do
Poor air quality can affect all areas of our lives, including our health, the buildings we live and work in, and our surrounding environment.
Those most at risk from poor air quality are the young, the elderly and those with a pre-existing lung or heart condition.
We are working to reduce air pollution by encouraging cleaner ways to travel, reducing the impact of new developments at the planning stage, investigating complaints of air pollution, and regulating Permitted Processes.
However, there are also many simple actions that can be taken by individual members of the public to help improve air quality, such as:
Transport
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Walking and cycling short journeys rather than taking the car. Find out about bike hire in Eden on the Visit Eden website.
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Using public transport wherever possible. Find out about public transport in Eden.
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Lift sharing to work and for the school run;
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Find out about Active Travel to School on the Active Cumbria website, which promotes walking to school.
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Burning off the car engine when stationary (no idling).
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Choose a low emission vehicle such as an electric or hybrid car.
Daily Air Quality Index
See Air Pollution on the Met Office website they offer a Daily Air Quality Index, which you can use to find out the predicted air quality in any area.
View Air Quality Index from our live monitors in Castlegate, Penrith.
If you wish to take an active role in improving air quality within this district there are the following local action groups:
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See the 'Sustainable living guide' on the CAfS (Cumbria Action for Sustainability) website, which promotes low carbon living, energy saving and reduced use of fossil fuels throughout Cumbria.
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Visit PACT (Penrith Action for Community Transition) website, which is a transition town group started in Cumbria during 2008, and is part of the growing transition network here in the UK and around the world, working to develop community-based responses to the challenges of peak oil, climate change and economic sustainability.
Homes
In 2019, both CAfS and PACT worked with a number of villages in the district and have given presentations to Councillors at Full Council.
We are working with CAfS on Warm Homes Eden scheme. The scheme aims to help people who find it difficult to heat their homes and who meet certain requirements.
See Cold to Cosy on the CAfS website if you’re struggling with high heating bills or a cold home, take advantage of CAfS Cold to Cosy Homes service, which is free for all eligible Cumbrian households.
Warm Homes Eden offers a range of support from energy efficiency advice, making homes warmer, access to draught proofing, through to accessing a benefit entitlement review and assessment of an inefficient heating system.
They also give energy efficiency advice to village halls and community venues across the district.