From Clean Air for Brent (CAfB)
Clean Air for Brent (CAfB)’s aim is to see air quality
significantly improved in the London borough of Brent. As a tool towards
helping Brent Council and residents achieve this goal, CAfB ispleased to launch ‘A
Study on Air Quality in Brent’ on 21 June 2018 – national Clean Air Day.
Following a proposal from CAfB, Imperial College MSc Environmental Technology
students carried out this study between January and March 2018.
Chamberlayne Road in Kensal Rise and Harlesden High Street were
chosen as case studies to analyse Brent’s air pollution problem and establish
causes. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in both areas critically exceed the legal limit
deemed fit for humans.
Children are one of the most vulnerable groups harmed by air pollution – including asthma, lung
stunting and cognitive impairment. John Keble C of E Primary is next
to Harlesden High Street and Ark Franklin Primary is on Chamberlayne Road. Both
are among the 50 most polluted primary schools in the capital that were
included in the Mayor of London’s recent Air Quality School Audit.
This report, the first deep-dive air pollution study of its kind
for the two areas, not only identifies the causes but also recommends sources
of funding to tackle the issue.
Unsurprisingly, the primary cause of the air pollution problems in
the two areas is road traffic.
· Traffic
surveys show that a large proportion of the vehicles travelling through the
study areas are diesel powered - 63% in Chamberlayne and 42% in Harlesden High
Street.
· Interviews
conducted with drivers also reveal the significant role of non-local journeys –
through traffic making up 50-60% of rush hour vehicles.
· Both
routes carry traffic volumes double the national average for the time of day in
question.
At a Celebration of Clean Air event held jointly with Brent
Council and Brent Friends of the Earth at Civic Centre on Thursday evening,
Chair of CAfB Fiona Mulaisho commented:
Today we are all signing up
to a Brent Clean Air Pledge, and in keeping with that CAfB hopes Brent
Councillors and officers will draw and act on this report. As
well as working with the worst affected schools to limit their exposure to
filthy air in the playground and the classroom, we urge them to use all their
powers to tackle the root causes and clean up the air our children and we
breathe.
