Birmingham City Council has announced the establishment of a new fund that will help to improve the air quality of the area by funding support schemes.
The funding scheme, named the Brum Breathes Fund, will help schemes and projects that are seeking to improve air quality, as well as encouraging active travel. It is hoped that this will help to raise awareness of the impact that poor air quality can have on communities and their health.
The launching of the scheme came on the second anniversary of the city’s Clean Air Zone, whilst being funded by the revenues that are raised from that project. This will see the funding allow single-member council wards to receive up to £20,000 per year, whilst two-member wards will be able to receive up to £40,000 per year for the next two years.
Councillor Liz Clements, Cabinet Member for Transport at Birmingham City Council, said:
“We’re committed to helping our residents to achieve their full potential by improving the quality of the air they breathe. The Brum Breathes Fund will provide support to local councillors and community groups to improve the air quality in every corner of the city.
“Through the fund, we’re looking to invest in projects such as cycle racks, school traffic exclusion plans, sustainable transport measures and a range of other great ideas for delivering the benefits of clean air to everyone.”
Applicants will be required to meet specific criteria in order to quality for funding, with these including:
- Promoting the benefits of cleaner air
- Supporting active travel and public transport use
- Encouraging a greater shift towards zero emissions travel or infrastructure
Applications will also require the support of the local councillor, local ward forums, and be in alignment with the priorities of the local ward’s action plan.
