WANDWORTH ENVIRONMENT FORUM MEETING MINUTES
March 10 2015
Air Pollution On Our Streets
The WANDSWORTH ENVIRONMENT FORUM (WEF) meeting on March 10 focussed on the health
impacts of local air pollution. Speakers’ presentations not only addressed the types of air
pollution and how they are being generated. They also talked about what research and monitoring
is being done specifically in Wandsworth, how this could be extended and the Council’s Air Quality
Action Plan. Most relevant were the frightening details about the levels of particles and gases:
the wide range of health problems these already cause and the increasing long-term impact on all
ages if we do not take more specific national/local govt and personal action. Speakers also
referenced progressive initiatives which need to be built on.
Speakers: key points
Simon Birkett: Founder of Clean Air in London (CAL). For more information, email
contact@cleanair.london
The levels of PARTICLES (ie. PM 2.5 and PM10) and Nitrogen Dioxide (N02) on many central London
streets are among the highest in the world. This affects both younger and older people, especially
anyone with respiratory or cardio-vascular problems.
Locally, the levels on Putney High Street are 3.5 times the legal limit.
NO2 from buses: the Mayor has complied with the legal limit in Marylebone. Oxford St and Putney
High St currently do not comply with the legal limit.
Currently, 5-10% of the most powerful particles come from illegal wood-burning.
There is concern that there are DEFRA proposals to scrap some of the current monitors.
In 1952, there was short-term exposure, resulting in the 1956 Clean Air Act. Today invisible particles
are constantly prevalent and have substantial long-term effect. CAL speculates that total annual
deaths attributable to NO2 and PM2.5 currently may be around 7,500 in London.
Some good news: Client Earth are back in court re NO2 levels on 16 April 2015.
[This follows last year’s ruling from the European Court of Justice which held that the UK must
achieve air quality standards in the ‘shortest time possible’. Client Earth will be calling on the
Supreme Court to order the Government to produce a new plan to cut pollution from diesel vehicles.
The Government’s current plans will not meet legal limits for nitrogen dioxide until after 2030 – 20
years after the original deadline.]
Aims for improved air quality:
1. Ban diesel by 2020
2. Bring in more compressed natural gas electric vehicles
Samantha Heath: Chief Executive, London Sustainability Exchange (LSX)
Samantha’s presentation is attached. For more information, contact
Samantha.heath@lsx.org.uk
Gavin Stedman (WBC): Area Manager for Environment (Environmental Services Dept)
Gavin’s presentation is attached. For more information, contact
GStedman@wandsworth.gov.uk
Councillor Jonathan Cook: Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council and Cabinet
Member for Community Services. For more information contact
jonathancook@wandsworth.gov.uk
What WBC has been doing:
* More monitoring
* Allocation of hybrid buses along Putney High Street
* 3 out of 4 monitors in Wandsworth are in the most vulnerable areas
* More 20mph areas have been implemented (check out WBC website for these)
Changing people’s habits and behaviour is a high priority for WBC by promoting more cycling, car
clubs and Quietways.
Quietways : Transport for London (TfL) is developing a network of “Quietway” routes for
cyclists, envisaged as high-quality guided routes on low-traffic back streets and other
routes so that different kinds of cyclists can choose the routes which suit them. Quietways
are intended to be direct, clearly signed, and delivered as whole routes without gaps in
difficult places. Quietways could form part of a future improved network of cycling routes
in the Borough and could support the new cycling strategy under development as agreed in
Paper No. 14-50.
That diesel was a massive failure of public policy is now generally acknowledged.
Although a lot has been done to increase the electric car infrastructure resources in Wandsworth,
there has not been a very good take-up. There is an upcoming electric vehicle racing event in
Battersea Park (27/28 June) which aims to encourage the use of electric vehicles generally.
Questions and Answers
Suggestion for a workshop for all WBCouncillors to make them more informed of the issue of Air
Pollution in Wandsworth
.
Cllr Cook said he was happy to present this idea to other Councillors.
Samantha suggested that demonstrating the connection between planning and air quality could
be made more explicit.
Re technologies available for cleaning up polluted air in London: what is the progress?
Simon said that transport decisions in London are being strongly influenced by air quality issues
and that this will be a very big topic for the 2016 Mayoral elections.
RE loading zones and times: is this going to shift?
Cllr Cook confirmed that a consultation on this has been completed with regard to Putney High
Street. Gavin Stedman said that there are consultations with local businesses about putting in
place extra loading restrictions. There may be funding from DEFRA to see what the impact was of
the closure of Putney Bridge during the resurfacing works and the perceived difference in air
quality in the local community.
RE addressing Air Quality in Planning applications: what can we do?
Gavin said that ‘air quality neutral’ is taken into account in planning.
Planning application re Putney High St: the new proposed tall building would increase the ‘canyon
effect’ in the high street. John Horrocks has asked numerous councillors but none seem to consider
this a serious issue.
Cllr Cook stated that a lot of councillors do consider this an important issue for planning on Putney
High St.
Is WBC looking at diesel procurement?
Cllr Cook made the point that heavy vehicles do not have petrol engines and that this is an issue.
Compressed natural gas is considered the way forward for diesel heavy vehicles.
The negative impact of diesel vehicles: things are getting worse. What can be done?
Luke Taylor suggested the following that WBC could do:
Lobby Transport for London (tfl) for more action
Lobby the London Assembly re taxi emissions
Implement differential parking charges in Wandsworth