Slough has joined other Labour councils in the fight against dirty air.

The council has signed up to Oxford City Council’s Charter for Cleaner Air at cabinet meeting on Monday (July 15).

The charter calls on the government to “put the health of communities first” and make improving air quality a “priority”.

It sets out 10 key steps for the government to take to tackle the issue of air pollution, including providing greater investment in public transport, tightening legal limits on polluting vehicles and improving national monitoring.

The Cleaner Air Charter is believed to be the first formal co-operation between Greenpeace UK and Friends of the earth to be led by local authorities.

SBC’s lead member for transport and environmental services, Cllr Rob Anderson, said: “Air pollution is now recognised as the UK’s largest environment risk to public health, contributing to heart and respiratory diseases, and lung cancer.

“We are determined to improve air quality in Slough and have already taken steps to tackle air pollution, including introducing a low emissions strategy, developing electric vehicle infrastructure, improving pedestrian and cycle links and supporting residents onto public transport.

“I urge the government to make this issue a priority and work with us to improve air quality for our communities.”