Hitchin Bim Afolami MP has called on North Herts District Council to improve air quality in our area.

Mr Afolami has written to the leaders at NHDC and Hertfordshire County Council to call on them to bid for funding from the government's £9m Air Quality Grant Programme.

If they decide to make a bid to the fund and are successful, Mr Afolami says the local authorities would be able to use their share of the £9m to help tackle air pollution and reduce emissions affecting schools, businesses and residents in Hitchin.

Mr Afolami explained: "Since I was first elected in 2017 one of my main priorities has been working to protect our local environment in Hitchin, Harpenden and our villages.

"With our close proximity to a major international airport and further local concerns over air quality around schools and in and around our industrial estates, it is clear to me that ensuring we have clean, safe air is vitally important.

"Local authorities are able to make a real difference to local air quality with funding from the Air Quality Grant Programme.

"I have written to our local council leaders to urge them to bid for funding from the programme and I hope that we can work together to tackle local air quality and

help to create a healthier and cleaner environment for our local community."

The programme has delivered nearly £70m since it was first launched to tackle poor air quality and it forms a part of the Government's broader Clean Air Strategy.

The broader strategy includes £3.8bn funding to improve air quality and provide cleaner transport, as well as a further £2.5bn to help cities improve local transport systems through the Transforming Cities Fund.

Further elements of the Clean Air Strategy will be delivered through the Environment Bill, for which Bim

sat on the Bill Committee.