Core Cities UK Leaders and Mayors have gathered to support National Clean Air Day taking place tomorrow (20th of June).

A national day of action, Clean Air Day will see schools, hospitals and communities across the UK run events to inspire people to take simple steps to protect their health and their families’ health from air pollution.

Speaking at the Core Cities UK cabinet meeting in Birmingham, Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of Core Cities UK and Leader of Leeds City Council. said:

“Poor air quality costs thousands of lives across the Core Cities every year and many of our cities are already taking action through Clean Air Zones and other initiatives to improve the air our citizens breathe.

“We have consistently argued that cities need greater freedoms to tackle this problem and that the current Whitehall method of bidding for individual pots of funding does not work. Cities and their surrounding areas know best how to tackle this urgent public health issue.

“But we must not forget that there are things we can all do as individuals to cut air pollution, for example cycling or walking to school or work rather than relying on the car.

“We look forward to tomorrow, when thousands of events will take place across the Core Cities all with the aim of inspiring people to make a difference and improve the air they and their fellow citizens breathe.”