Reacting to London Mayor Sadiq Khan's announcement about the upcoming expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone, Clean Air for Brent Chair Fiona Mulaisho said:
We welcome this announcement which will help to protect Brent residents in the south of the borough from toxic air from October 2021. A stronger, larger Ultra Low Emission Zone will go a long way to tackling the currently illegal and harmful levels of air pollution.However, we are concerned that as the ULEZ will not cover the North Circular itself, more dirty diesel powered vehicles will choose to use this already busy and hugely polluted road. As hundreds of Brent residents live right by or very close to the North Circular, we will be challenging the Mayor and Brent Council to work together to ensure these people’s air quality does not worsen when the new zone comes into effect.The Mayor now needs to turn his thoughts to what he is going to do to ensure those who live outside the North Circular can also breathe cleaner air.
Given that there will be no sunset period for people living within the extended zone to change their vehicles, CAfB also calls for strong engagement with residents and through drivers on the practical issues which arise, starting now.
Note from Martin Francis
I feel strongly that the North Circular and beyond should be included. When I worked at Brentfield Primary School, close to the North Circular at Brent Park, I was very concerned about the number of children with respiratory problems. At the time, 20 years or so ago, about 2/3 of the children in my class had 'pumps.' It was noteworthy that when we went on a residential trip to Brent's Gordon Brown Outdoor Education Centre in Hampshire they did not need to use them but when we returned and approached the outskirts of London they began to ask for them.
Note from Martin Francis
I feel strongly that the North Circular and beyond should be included. When I worked at Brentfield Primary School, close to the North Circular at Brent Park, I was very concerned about the number of children with respiratory problems. At the time, 20 years or so ago, about 2/3 of the children in my class had 'pumps.' It was noteworthy that when we went on a residential trip to Brent's Gordon Brown Outdoor Education Centre in Hampshire they did not need to use them but when we returned and approached the outskirts of London they began to ask for them.
It makes you cynically wonder what was the point of Sadiq Khan's "consultation" if at the end of it he announced he's going to do exactly what he was planning to do anyway. It's very clear from the maps he issued that by far the worst pollution outside central London is along the North and South Circulars, yet these are deliberately excluded from the proposed ULEZ, meaning that emissions along them will actually get even worse as highly-polluting vehicles attempt to skirt the zone. So a half-hearted cheer for this, but it could and should have been so much better.
ReplyDeleteIs the A5 included?
ReplyDeleteConsultations are a farce, just a tick box, similar to voting, dont waste your time.
ReplyDelete