AIR quality problems in Surrey are not helped by parents sitting in their cars with engines running while they wait for their children to come out of school, according to members of an environment group.

The pollution around playgrounds and homes near to schools is one area people could be making a small difference to air quality problems in the county, councillors said.

The comments came at Surrey County Council’s environment select committee last Thursday as councillors discussed Surrey’s Transport Plan Low Emissions Strategy.

As well as appealing to parents to turn off their engines, other ideas floated by councillors included encouraging more people to use electric vehicles and the possibility of using lampposts to act as charging points.

All feedback is now being used to submit a final transport strategy to Surrey’s cabinet’s October meeting.