COMMUNITY activists working in the heart of one of Southampton’s most polluted neighbourhoods are urging the younger generation to join their fight for better air quality.

The Western Docks Consultation Forum (WDCF) are campaigning to restrict the impacts of future developments at the city’s docks on people living in the Freemantle and Millbrook areas.

It follows the collapse of plans for a giant biomass plant earmarked for the docks after energy giant Helius fell into further financial difficulties.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, the £300m wood fuelled plant’s demise marked the climax of a four-year battle led by the No Southampton Biomass Group who feared the station and its 100m (328ft) chimney would tower over their homes and pollute the air.

The firm is preparing to delist from the stock exchange and sell 50 per cent of its stake in its only active power plant in Scotland to recoup cash.

Millbrook and Freemantle are already among the city’s most polluted districts due to their proximity to the docks and M27 and M271 motorways.

Now the WDCF challenging children living in the area to have their say on improving air quality through a new competition.

And the group is urging city businesses and firms to support them by donating prizes and are appealing for somewhere to display the finished work.

Youngsters from three primary schools in both districts will air their views through poems, posters and essays.

It is being organised to mark World Environment Day – an international held by the United Nations on Friday, June 5, to raise awareness of pollution.

WDCF spokesman Colin Macqueen who is organising the competition, said: “We want to raise awareness of environmental issues. Children are the future and if we neglect their welfare and wellbeing we are giving up on the future.

“If we can get them to think about it early they can provide their own solutions for the future.

“We hope businesses can help by donating prizes.

“We also hope this can be developed into something that is developed more widely through Southampton to raise awareness of air quality and pollution.”

Schools taking part are Redbridge Primary, Newlands Primary and Freemantle CE Community Academy.

They will submit their entries by Friday, May 8.

Anyone wanting to donate or provide somewhere to exhibit the work should email info@wdcf.org.