No fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for engine idling have been issued by Reading Borough Council (RBC) since a warning period for taxi drivers ended almost four months ago.

The issue was raised at full council on October 16, when Green councillor Brenda McGonigle asked if RBC will fulfil its promise to effectively campaign against engine idling in Reading.

Significant changes in the heart occur even at relatively low levels of air pollution exposure, according to recent research from scientists at Queen Mary University.

Cllr McGonigle said: “While childhood asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the over 50s are on the increase taxis in residential streets are still idling sometimes for up to 30 minutes.

“When spoken to, the majority of drivers have no idea why they should switch off. The government should be acting but we won’t hold our breath waiting for that to happen.

“Two years later it appears this council has done little or nothing to effectively campaign against engine idling.”

Councillor Page, lead member for transport and strategic environment, said fines for engine idling are a last resort but will be served if culprits do not heed warnings.

He added: “We have not got the resources to throw at it on a daily basis.

"It is now beyond the warning period. If Hackney carriages do not recognise the warnings, we will not hesitate to serve FPNs, but it is a last resort.”

Councillors agreed to campaign to reduce engine idling as part of the Reading’s Air Quality Action Plan, at the strategic environment, planning and transport committee on 23 November 2016.

Road Traffic Regulations of 2002 give discretionary powers to officers to issue FPNs of £20 – £40 if unpaid – to drivers who refuse to switch off their engines, or to repeat offenders.

Reading licensing officers have been speaking to drivers over the last 18 months, bringing the problem to their attention and asking drivers to switch their engine off.

Cllr Page sent a letter to hackney carriage taxi drivers on June 27, 2018, warning that FPNs would be served to drivers found idling without a reasonable excuse. No FPN has yet been issued.

The campaign to encourage drivers to switch off their engines is part of the Council’s ongoing Air Quality Action Plan.

RBC has teams of volunteers, Air Quality Champions, who invite drivers to become part of the campaign to improve local air quality by switching off their engines.

RBC say this approach has a 75% success rate.