A NEW task force to tackle poor air quality will soon be established by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The authority voted to establish the new 'Air Quality Task Force' on Friday, November 16 in a bid to raise awareness of air quality across Merseyside.

Made up of elected representatives from the region's six local authorities, the new task force will help deliver Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram's environmental pledge to make the city region the greenest in the UK.

Mayor Rotheram told the Globe: "Poor air quality is a national public health crisis which is shortening the lives of people across our city region, and disproportionately affecting the old and the young, those who are already sick, and our most deprived communities.

“That is why we have established this Air Quality Task Force, to raise the profile of this issue and help us, as a Combined Authority, to improve air quality in our city region.

“I have previously called on central government to take action in this area but we are determined to do all that we can as a city region to help clean up the air that we all breathe.”

The new Air Quality Task Force builds on recommendations made by the Combined Authority's Overview and Scrutiny committee earlier this year.

Portfolio Holder for Transport and Air Quality Councillor Liam Robinson said: “We are already taking action, through practical measures, such as making it easier to walk and cycle safely, helping schools with travel planning and rolling out low-carbon vehicle technology, such as more car charging points.

“However there is more that we can do, particularly around transport, as nitrogen dioxide from vehicles is the main pollutant affecting people’s health.

“While we will do everything in our power to tackle air pollution we also need action from central government through measures such as vehicle scrappage schemes and funding for behaviour change programmes.”