A MOTORING company has waded in to a campaign about the need for a clean air zone around a Basingstoke school.

A letter in last week’s Gazette alluded to cars parked near Kempshott Primary and Infant School, for anything up to an hour, while leaving the engines running.

The letter from a resident near to the school raised concerns about the health of people caused by emissions from the vehicle.

The RAC has now stepped in to make banners for the school to display, promoting a clean air zone and trying to educate people on the need to turn their engines off while dropping their children at school.

RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said: “Idling engines are a major source of pollution so we welcome authorities attempting to address this - however the best way to do this is to encourage parents to do this without a rush to hand out fines .

“We welcome an approach to educate drivers with signs and banners outside schools encouraging engines to be switched off or risk being fined.”

The problem appeared to be widespread, and is replicated around other schools and colleges as well as car parks around the borough.

This problem has also merited a response from Maria Miller to the letter writer, in support of trying to reduce the number of cars standing idle outside schools. The MP could not be reached for comment.

Earlier this year, proposals came from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) and Public Health England (PHE), about “no idling zones” being brought in outside schools, hospitals and care homes to protect vulnerable people from fumes.

The schools refused to comment on the subject.