Oxford’s actions for clean air spawned protests against pollution across the county to mark national Clean Air Day on Thursday.

South Oxfordshire Sustainability (SOS) reports demonstrations and campaigns taking place in Wallingford, Watlington, and Henley. Our towns have suffered lethal levels of air pollution for over a decade.

In Wallingford, Sustainable Wallingford joined forces with South Oxfordshire Sustainability to meet with the BBC cameras at midday when footage of traffic was taken and then an interview conducted on the effects of air pollution.

Later, at 5pm, more people from both organisations gathered with placards to walk the length of High Street, Castle Street and the Market Place, asking drivers to consider switching off their engines.

This was a big success as many drivers switched off their idling engines.

Let’s hope they remember to do so many more times.

It was explained to drivers that contrary to popular misconceptions, it does not harm engines to switch off; it does not create more pollution to then switch back on again; it is ok for diesel engines to be switched off.

One Sustainable Wallingford member has monitored the effects of no idling in her car and discovered that she gets 50 miles more each month out of a full tank of petrol – so it is possible to save money and lives.

Clean Air for Henley focussed on schools last week.

As we know, it is children, with their vulnerable developing lungs and brains, who suffer permanent effects from NOX gasses and minuscule pieces of soot that lodge in the brain and other organs.

All three towns are working on no-idling campaigns. Many drivers do not know that they experience greater air pollution inside their vehicles than pedestrians do.

Exhaust gasses are sucked straight from the tailpipe of one car into the body of the car behind creating a veritable Fume Cupboard from which queued drivers cannot escape.

Members of Clean Air for Henley are talking to shopkeepers about protecting their customers from road-fumes.

On Tuesday, RSA Thame launched a Green Living Plan for a greener future for their town.

Thame Town Council supports The Plan.

In Watlington, the parish council is taking a lead on protecting its citizens.

However, responsibility for air pollution debilitating us and shortening our lives also lies with the district council. You could write to your local councillors to ask for action.