School eco warriors quiz council experts on air quality

School children from five schools in south Sefton took on air quality experts at Southport Eco Centre.

The ‘Air Quality Meet the Experts’ event gave young people the opportunity to quiz a panel of senior managers and officers from Sefton Council.

The event built on previous work the Eco Centre has been doing with schools across Sefton to make sure that they are well informed about the causes and impacts of air pollution and what they can do to avoid it.

The expert panel included Matthew Ashton, Sefton’s director of public health, Dr Stephen Birch, transport planning and highway development manager, Stephanie Jukes, section manager for energy and environmental management, Helen Armitage, consultant in public health, Greg Martin, principal environmental health officer and Jean Hunt, principal highway safety officer.

They were put to the test by pupils from Bedford Primary School, Lander Road Primary School, Our Lady Star of the Sea RC Primary School, Thomas Gray Primary School and Waterloo Primary School.

The students grilled the experts on a range of topics that are important to them including Highways England’s plans to build a road though Rimrose Valley, the health impacts of air pollution and what needs to be done to promote more active travel.

The event coincided with the launch of the Eco Centre’s brand new ‘Clean Air Crew’ website which has been created as an interactive resource to educate young people about air quality.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “It was a fantastic day for young people to learn about air pollution and the effect it has on their lives and their community.

“The efforts, interest and commitment that they put into the day has been truly phenomenal and I have no doubt that when they become the business leaders and politicians of the future, Sefton will be an even cleaner, greener and more beautiful place to live.”