Freight and service-delivery vehicles, along with construction sites, will be among the areas subject to stricter scrutiny as Croydon Council seeks to improve air quality across the borough.

With the publication of its five-year draft Air Quality Action Plan, the council is asking residents, communities and businesses to help reduce air pollution that affects the health and well-being of everyone in Croydon.

Councillor Stuart King said the quality of air was a major issue.

“The quality of the air we breathe has a huge impact on our quality of life,” he said.

“Pollution impacts everyone’s health and well-being, but it has a disproportionate effect on the most vulnerable, such as children, older people and those with health conditions.

“Improving air quality is vital if we want to make Croydon not only cleaner and greener but also safer.”

The draft Air Quality Action Plan will be available from Monday (June 26) at on the council's website

The new action plan has been produced to build upon the 2012-17 plan that included:

• the establishment of a Zip Car club that has seen 1,638 residents join

• the installation of 47 electric-vehicle charging points

• the installation of 20 idling-vehicle signs at borough schools

• the implementation of the town-centre construction logistics plan

• the Clean Air 4 Schools project in six borough primary schools

One of the major contributors to air pollution is nitrogen dioxide produced by diesel vehicles.

In tackling diesel emissions, the council, in conjunction with Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth councils is working to improve air quality by reducing the number of delivery vehicles travelling into the borough.

To address the issue of emissions produced by construction sites and construction vehicles, the council has implemented a town-centre construction logistics plan.