MORE than £200,000 has been handed to a council to reduce pollution and make Colchester's air cleaner for residents.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has given Colchester Council £248,700 to tackle the issue.

The funding, announced last week, supports the council’s drive to improve local air quality, and it is the third consecutive year it has been successful in securing funding for clean air work.

The project will see the trial of two shared sustainable transport hubs, giving residents access to electric club cars and a range of electric and electric cargo bikes.

Martin Goss, portfolio holder for waste, environment and transportation, said: “I am really pleased that we have been awarded this significant investment.

"This builds on the success of the previous funding and comes as recognition of our ability to deliver positive action and get things done.

“I am looking forward to seeing the projects progress and it is a key step towards our strategic aim of reducing carbon emissions in Colchester; helping to improve our air quality and our resident’s health and wellbeing.”

In addition to the electric transport hubs the project will see the council’s CAReless Pollution campaign run for another year, encouraging people to switch off their engines when stationary which can reduce pollution by up to 30 per cent.

There will also be a winter campaign tackling air pollution caused by wood burning and encouraging the take up of cleaner fuels.

The project forms part of the council’s work to tackle the climate challenge.