 |
| From yesterday's Twitter |
From Clear Air for Brent
Air pollution is now said to be the number one killer in the world,
followed by HIV(1). According
to Brent Council, 200 premature deaths occur each year which are directly
attributable to air pollution as well as further unquantified premature deaths
where air quality is a factor, so Clean Air for Brent (CAfB) expected to
see bold actions backed by robust measures in Brent’s new Air Quality Action
Plan (3,4).
However the plan, which was signed off by Council leaders late last
year, contains no specific measures to protect public health or even to comply
fully with legal standards (5). The action plan correctly identifies road
transport as the major source of harmful emissions, but does not contain
adequate solutions, and fails to effectively tackle the worst pollution
hotspots and routes.
It is a plan that shies away from real action and
accountability on this life-threatening issue. Fiona Mulaisho, Chair of CAfB said:
“In agreeing this toothless plan, Brent Council has missed another opportunity to step up its game, and
promise much needed bold actions to its residents. We appreciate they are under severe financial
constraints, but residents' health must be pushed far higher up their priority
list.”
The Air Quality Action Plan, which
covers the period from 2017-2022, contains four proposed Air Quality Focus
Areas; but Brent’s own monitoring data show that these are not the worst
affected areas. If, as stated, the Council's '...ultimate aim is to secure clean
air for all especially for those at greatest risk or in the worst affected
areas in the borough'; this plan will sadly not deliver it. CAfB urges the Council go beyond its current
confines to:
·
Create a borough-wide Clean
Air Zone allowing for targeted action to improve air quality, reducing
public exposure to all forms of pollution, delivering health benefits and
economic growth.
·
Undertake much more
ambitious commitments to increase the proportion of journeys by walking and
cycling in the borough (6).
·
As a matter of priority introduce a Low
Emission Neighbourhood which focuses action on
a genuine priority area with a combination of controls, incentives,
dis-incentives and awareness raising, to provide a measurable improvement
(compared with a similar non-intervention area) over 5 years.
2.
Clean Air for Brent
(CAfB) is a coalition of residents' associations, community groups and
individuals focused on raising awareness about air quality, changing behaviours
to improve air quality, and improving public health outcomes in the Brent
Borough through the provision of better air quality. It is also committed to
contributing to local and national clean air policy debates.
4. Air pollution
contributes to poor health and is responsible for the premature death of 9,500
Londoners a year, with 112 early deaths in Brent in 2010. It is linked with
cancer, strokes, heart disease and respiratory problems. The main pollutants
are nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter, particularly from diesel
vehicles. Of all outer London local
authorities, Brent has the highest number of people - 69,283 - living in the
Capital’s worst polluted areas.
5. The EU legal mean for NO2 is 40µg/metre3;
the World Health Organisation sets it at 20µg/metre3. Similarly, EU legal requirements on particulate matter are 25m/m3, double the
World Health Organisation guideline amounts of 12.5m/m3.
6.
The current relevant
Brent Cycling Strategy target is to increase the mode share to 3% in 2021 from
1% in 2013. The equivalent Brent Walking
Strategy target is to increase pedestrian mode share to 30% in 2022 from 27% in
2016.
