Plants and Ivy Under Flyover Gain Healthy Streets Award
Hammersmith BID win prize for second year with project to improve air quality
Hammersmith Business Improvement District, or BID has won a top prize at the prestigious Healthy Streets Awards for the second year running.
Its project, called Hammersmith Business Low Emissions Neighbourhood or BLEN aims to improve the space and air quality under the Hammersmith flyover with planters and ivy which provide a natural barrier against emissions from the vehicles on the road
BLEN scooped the prize in the Best Healthy Streets Business Improvement District Project category.
As a busy commuter hub with a high annual footfall, improving the air quality for pedestrians in Hammersmith is paramount. As well as adding plants, BLEN also features Plants not Pollution artwork and signage and the BID has also carried out a programme of community events to raise awareness and educate the public on air quality.
The award win follows the recent roll out of Hammersmith BID’s Parcels Not Pollution scheme - the launch of a new zero-emissions freight hub for business deliveries to reduce traffic, ease congestion and improve air quality in the local area, which has also been well received.
The annual Healthy Streets Awards recognise and reward excellence in the planning and delivery of Healthy Street improvements in towns and cities across Great Britain & Ireland. The prizes were handed out at the International Healthy Streets Summit 2019 held at Glasgow City Chambers on 9 October.
Patricia Bench, BID Director at Hammersmith BID, said: "This award is a great recognition of the BID’s commitment to improve air quality in Hammersmith. The BLEN is just one of many BID initiatives to create a more environmentally friendly town centre, and builds on the success of the popular parklets and new Parcels Not Pollution service. We aim to continue to deliver more innovative clean air projects in the future."
The BLEN and community parklets project have also been awarded a silver Global Good Award and a prestigious Nancye Goulden award, a Hammersmith Society accolade. They form part of the BID’s wider commitment to deliver green spaces, cleaner air, and improve the environment.
October 25, 2019