Royal Greenwich Launches ECO Stars Scheme To Tackle Air Pollution

by Benson Agoha | Woolwich

* Cllr Danny Thorpe

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is working with local commercial fleet operators in a new scheme that will improve air quality on local roads.

The latest ECO Stars fleet recognition scheme was launched at the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Birchmere centre on Wednesday 9 March 2016.

The ECO Stars scheme encourages and supports operators of HGVs, vans, buses and coaches to run their fleets more efficiently. ECO Stars fleet experts assess each fleet, award a star rating based on current performance and produce a ‘roadmap’ of recommendations which will help operators to reduce vehicle emissions while also reducing operating costs. Membership is free to all fleet operators, irrespective of the size of their operation.

Scheme members attending the launch event included commercial fleet operators from Royal Borough of Greenwich Fleet Services, DHL (Nisa) and the University of Greenwich.

Councillor Danny Thorpe, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, welcomed the launch while presenting scheme members with certificates recognising their initial star ratings: “The launch of the Eco Stars scheme in Greenwich marks a new chapter for both us and our partners in working to improve the borough’s air quality. I am looking forward to seeing how we take our Road Maps forward and all aim for a 5 star rating so that we can run cleaner, safer and greener fleets.”

The ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme was originally set up in South Yorkshire, in 2009, when local councils wanted to tackle local air quality issues caused by transport. Seven years later ECO Stars has gone from strength to strength, with 21 schemes in the UK and several more in Europe.

Ann Beddoes, ECO Stars Schemes Manager, from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, said, “I am delighted that the Royal Borough of Greenwich have joined the ECO Stars Fleet Recognition and wish them every success in their drive to reduce air pollution”.