News Articles Archive - Page 57 of 146 - Cross River Partnership

This week we are featuring CRP’s Project Manager Kate Fenton, who is leading on CRP’s Clean Air Villages programme.

What I love about working for CRP is that no two days are the same. I also have the pleasure of working with a passionate and dynamic team. As CAV Project Manager, my role is to oversee the delivery of this cross-borough air quality programme. This involves building positive working relationships with the funder and project partners, mobilising the team and ensuring targets are hit; all with the bottom line of improving air quality. Here is a sample of what my day looks like:

Firstly I check emails and Teams messages, then attend a brief internal meeting to agree on content for the promotion of our Clean Air Routes. I then meet with a colleague to brainstorm ideas on how to run a meeting with three major museums who we conducted a deliveries audit with. After lunch I attend an active travel webinar and provide a short presentation about the CAV project. Next, I examine a draft of a case study we are working on and provide feedback. I then work on some costings for a piece of work that one of CRP’s members would like us to deliver next financial year. I have another meeting, this time with one of our project partners, to provide an update and ensure they are happy with progress. I then catch up with one of the members of the team to come up with ideas to further recruit organisations to use cargo bike schemes that we are managing. In and amongst this I do my best to keep on top of emails and find time to make a few cups of tea!

CRP watched the 3rd March 2021 Budget announcements closely, along with every other organisation, business and household in the country. While the support for jobs and livelihoods is welcome in the short term, there are still many unanswered questions about the more medium term prospects.

Of course there are many more things that will continue to be lobbied for, but at least we all now have clarity about the short term parameters within which we will operate, as we move into the next phase of living with COVID-19.

Another decade, another Census! A reminder to complete yours on or shortly after Sunday 21st March 2021, or you could face a fine.

Your answers to the census questions will help organisations make decisions on planning and funding public services in your area, including transport, education and healthcare.

Saturady 27th March 2021 is WWF’s Earth Hour.

Join the movement and switch off your lights at 8.30pm for one hour. This show of solidarity for our planet reminds us that small actions can make a big difference.

Thinking about our own energy use and our own actions is important in all areas of our lives. Reducing our carbon footprint can be done in many ways. From an air quality perspective, CO2 from road transport accounts for one third of all CO2 emissions.

You can reduce yours in many ways, for example, by avoiding unnecessary journeys or using sustainable travel modes, reducing or consolidating your deliveries and using suppliers who use less polluting vehicles. These actions will also reduce levels of toxic pollutants which are bad for our lungs.

For further information, please contact CRP Project Manager Kate Fenton.

In light of the pandemic, the national lockdown for the first wave (March 2020 to June 2020) led to a behavioural change of Londoners that contributed to the temporary improvement in air quality and an increase in active travel whilst socially distancing.

The London Environment Directors’ Network (LEDNet) and the Association of Directors of Public Health London (ADPH London) published a joint position statement in September 2019 to set out how we should respond to the challenge of air pollution, based on our expertise and the available evidence. LEDNet and ADPH London have now revised the joint position statement, following the first wave of the pandemic. LEDNet and ADPH London have revised the joint position statement, following the first wave of the pandemic, to provide recommendations for cleaning up London’s air.

We are really pleased that Little A.R.K are using the Clean Air Villages 3 cargo bike scheme in London Borough of Merton. This community group, made up of over 70 local volunteers, support the community through Little Acts of Random Kindness (A.R.K) including the production and distribution hand sewn items for those in need.

Little A.R.K are using the scheme to deliver face coverings, hats and scrub bags for NHS workers, working with 7 NHS trusts. In just one month, 2,000 scrub hats and 27,000 face masks have been created over a year!

If you’re a community organisation looking to deliver goods via cargo bike, please contact CRP Senior Project Officer Laura Jacklin.

CRP’s Clean Air Villages 3 project has been supporting Deptford’s businesses and community through a zero-emission cargo bike scheme. After the London Borough of Lewisham selected Deptford as the focus area, we partnered with cargo bike courier service ecofleet, to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on businesses and the community.

In addition to improving local air quality by switching delivery modes from vans and cars to cargo bike, it has been a fantastic asset to the community. One of the users, Nhung at Lai Loi Oriental Stores, said:

“We were approached by CRP to participate in a trial eco friendly cargo bike delivery program partnered with ecofleet and Lewisham Council. This has helped us to advertise our oriental grocery free delivery service on our social media and also tell our customers, so they don’t need to leave the house. It has cut our driving delivery time in a car or van, so reduced our emissions. The feedback is they love the service by ourselves at Lai Loi family and the friendly couriers at ecofleet. They don’t want us to stop!”

Since September 2020, the free cargo bike hours (and accompanying rider) have been used regularly by 6 organisations, including two food banks delivering packages throughout the winter. Users of the scheme also include a pharmacy delivering medicines to vulnerable residents and businesses that have pivoted to deliver to customers.

As part of the Clean Air Villages 3 programme, we have recently refreshed the Clean Air Route Finder! You can now find 14 new Clean Air Routes for walking and cycling across 11 London boroughs, created in collaboration with Tranquil City.

Our research has revealed that people can reduce their exposure to harmful air pollution by almost a quarter by taking a Clean Air Route, instead of the default route suggested by popular journey planners. Clean Air Routes help individuals to avoid busy and polluted roads. These serve as simple alternatives to popular commuter routes, often between stations and key destinations. The Clean Air Routes Monitoring Report can be accessed here.

For more information about this project or the Clean Air Villages programme, please contact CRP’s Project Manager Kate Fenton.

We are delighted to hear that another shared electric van for businesses has launched in London, this time in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF)! CRP managed the initial collaboration between Zipcar, LBHF and Fulham Broadway BID in 2019 as part of the Defra-funded Clean Air Villages 2
project.

The shared EV is FREE to use for qualifying businesses based in Fulham, including market traders on North End Road Market.

The Fulham EV joins the hugely successful Brixton shared EV for businesses which launched in December 2019. Since April 2020 the van has covered 6,670 miles, saving 2,398kg CO2, 5,712g NOx, and 301g PM10!

We have more exciting shared EV announcements just around the corner so be sure to follow CRP on Twitter and
LinkedIn to hear the latest.

CRP was very pleased to attend the virtual launch of Councillor Rachael
Robothan’s new City for All strategy on 4th March 2021, along with many other representatives from government, business, and communities.

The Leader inspired us all with her commitment to forging ahead in spite of the pandemic, and continuing to support a City for All, with vibrant communities and strong businesses.

Councillor Robothan highlighted Westminster City Council’s pioneering approach to Al Fresco Dining, and the economic benefits that it brings. She also trailed the Inside Out festival that will kick off in September, Oxford Street District plans, Marble Arch Mound and
Westminster Wheels.

CRP is delighted to have Westminster City Council as its lead Accountable Body, and looks forward to continuing to support the authority with its bold plans to lead London out of the pandemic in ways that are safer, greener, cleaner and fairer.

Archives: News Articles

CRP’s Spotlight On: Kate Fenton

Budget 2021

Census 2021

Switch On to the Switch Off

LEDNet and ADPH Joint Statement

Little A.R.K makes a Big Impact

Supporting Deptford’s Businesses and Community

Find a Cleaner Route Today!

Fulham’s Shared Electric Van for Businesses Launches

Westminster City Council – Leader’s Vision