Twenty electric vehicle charging points have now been installed for vehicles to use at The Birchmere Centre depot in Eastern Way, Thamesmead. The Council currently has two electric vans and this is to be increased to six in the New Year. Plans are also afoot to purchase up to 10 more electric vehicles for use by a variety of Council services by next Spring.

The drive towards the use of electric vehicles is part of the Council's action to reduce the harmful pollutants from vehicles including nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide. The electric vans currently used by the Council's Pollution Team, which undertakes asbestos surveys across the borough, have no dangerous tail pipe emissions at all.

Greener Greenwich Strategy

The continued expansion of electric charging points for both Council and residents use is a key policy in the Greener Greenwich Strategy published last year to help tackle air quality in the borough. The document sets out how the council will work to reduce vehicle emissions and currently high levels of pollution in areas around major roads.

The Royal Borough keenly supported National Clean Air Day last June which flagged up that air pollution can increase the risk of asthma attacks, heart disease, and diabetes is a contributing factor for premature deaths.

Find out more about the Greener Greenwich Strategy

'Greatly enhance the quality of our services'

Councillor Jackie Smith said: "We recognise that our own fleet has an impact on air quality in the borough and so it is vitally important that we work towards reducing the harmful emissions from our vehicles. The electric vehicles which are quieter, efficient and environmentally friendly will greatly enhance the quality of our services.

"We are also looking at other ways to clean up our fleet including the installation of software to look at driver behaviour to ensure harmful impacts on the environment are minimised by idling or harsh breaking.

"We are using a telematics system on our new refuse collection vehicles which allows us to operate them in an economical and efficient manner, lowering fuel consumption and increasing vehicle efficiency. We have also been replacing any older more polluting vehicles with those which meet the latest emission standards."

'Help improve air quality in the borough'

Councillor Danny Thorpe, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainability, said: "Installing these electric charging points will facilitate our drive to increase the number of electric powered in our fleet which is a key part of our Greener Greenwich Strategy to help improve air quality in the borough.

"We are determined to do all we can to make Royal Greenwich a cleaner, greener and more healthier place for our residents and generations to come. Our strategy launched last year includes creating more electric charge points across the borough, the introduction of solar panels in our social housing stock and exploring the development of a new heating network to supply lower emission energy to residents.

"We have also set up a Low Emission Neighbourhood (LEN) in Greenwich West and Peninsula wards which is jointly funded by Transport for London to improve air quality in the area which is impacted by traffic using the busy Blackwall Tunnel. Campaigns include projects to encourage people to ditch their cars and use a bike and lobbying for more green buses on routes which serve the area."