Brent's 'toothless' Air Quality Action Plan condemned by Clean Air for Brent

 

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.

1.    http://www.thelancet.com/commissions/pollution-and-health

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.

3.     Brent Council's Air Quality Action Plan can be viewed here:  http://democracy.brent.gov.uk/documents/s47267/Air%20Quality%20Action%20Plan%202017-2022%20-%20Full%20Report.pdf

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.

7.     For further information contact: fionamulaisho@yahoo.com

8.     CAfB website: https://cleanairforbrent.wordpress.com Twitter: @CleanAir4Brent  Facebook: Clean Air for Brent

Clean Air for Brent volunteers ready and willing to improve air quality in the borough

The volunteers

Update from Clean Air for Brent

New voluntary body, Clean Air for Brent (CAfB), formally launched at Willesden Library on the evening of Wednesday 11 October 2017. Fiona Mulaisho of Kensal Rise chaired an enthusiastic meeting of some 30 people who enrolled as members and elected a Steering Group to take the organisation forward. Priorities for action were identified.

Clean Air for Brent is a coalition of residents’ associations, community groups and individuals in Brent focused on raising awareness, changing behaviours and lobbying for better measures to tackle air pollution to improve public health outcomes.  

Tulip Siddiq MP had hoped to attend but was detained by Parliamentary duties. In a message to the meeting she said:

“I believe Sadiq Khan is saying the right things about air quality in London and it is high time local authority action plans’ ambition matched his own. Ultimately, however, it will be down to government to introduce the sweeping changes needed to make local air cleaner and within legal limits… I look forward to working closely with Clean Air for Brent in the coming months to advance their campaigning objectives.”

Cllr Ellie Southwood, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, explained that Brent’s Air Quality Action Plan will go to Council for approval in November but there are many initiatives already underway. Recently all Brent schools had been sent an anti-idling toolkit to promote efforts to reduce pollution from vehicles outside schools, including from school runs.  Clean Air for Brent is ready to support any actions the Council can take to clear the air we breathe.

Clean Air for Brent reported on a range of activities they have undertaken during their formation process. These included monitoring air pollution in local streets as part of a citizen science project across London, holding “The Air We Breathe” event in Brent Civic Centre in July, attended by 80 people, setting up a website and responding in depth to local, regional and national consultations.

A lively action planning session brought forward numerous ideas for priority actions for Clean Air for Brent which the Steering Group welcomed as guidance for its next steps. There are volunteering opportunities both for experts and those with little knowledge but with enthusiasm to tackle air pollution projects individually and together. 

As Cllr Ellie Southwood said: 

“We know there is an army of people out there who are really passionate about this and can help us make a difference.”

For Clean Air for Brent Fiona Mulaisho thanked people for attending and said :

“We are ready to go and looking for more volunteers.”

You can volunteer  via the contact page on the website  https://cleanairforbrent.wordpress.com/contact/ or by emailing the cafbrent@gmail.com .

The more people that can respond to the Mayor's London Environment Strategy consultation (or at least the air quality section) the more our voices will be heard.  It closes on 17th November and here is a link: https://www.london.gov.uk/WHAT-WE-DO/environment/environment-publications/draft-london-environment-strategy-have-your-say
 

CLEAN AIR FOR BRENT launches tonight at Willesden Green Library 7-9pm

From Clean Air for Brent LINK
Clean Air for Brent (CAfB) is to launch THIS WEDNESDAY 11 October at 7pm at Willesden Library, 95 High Road, NW10 2SF. 

You’ll be welcome at the door, but to help get a sense of numbers you can RSVP to cafbrent@gmail.com.

Much has happened since the public meeting held in July and there is CAfB news and information on https://cleanairforbrent.wordp ress.com/ . 

On Wednesday, we will hear more, including an update from Cllr Ellie Southwood on Brent Council’s Air Quality Action Plan. As well as brief formalities, including appointing members of the volunteer steering group, this is an opportunity to consider bringing your skills and interests to the group too.

The evening will be a chance to share ideas on how we might all play a part in reducing the damage to health created by polluted air.

To kick off our discussion, here are some quite simple ways CAfB volunteers together might help create the positive differences needed: 

• Monitoring of key roads in parts of Brent not so far covered, e.g. Wembley High Road, Ealing Road, Neasden/Blackbird Hill
• Designing and producing a map of Brent, clearly showing pollution hotspots
• Short talks and presentations on air quality at schools, residents’ associations and community groups
• Campaigning to green public transport
• Informing choices of private cars and fleet vehicles
• Working on a low emission neighbourhood designation
• Investigating the impact of Underground and Overground trains on air quality
• Sharing information and campaigning via internet and social media. 
• Contributing to surveys and consultations

Wednesday evening will be a great chance to meet like-minded people and share ideas, so do join in.

We’ll look forward to seeing you

Clean Air for Brent

Reminder: Clean Air in Brent Public Meeting July 6th

Air pollution campaign group, Clean Air for Brent, and Brent Council are holding a public meeting, “The Air We Breathe: how pollution is affecting us and what we can do about it”, on Thursday 6th July at 7-9pm at Brent Civic Centre in Wembley.

Speakers include world-renowned health expert Prof. Sir Michael Marmot (UCL & Harvard) , Simon Birkett, Director of Clean Air in London, Cllr Eleanor Southwood, Cabinet Member for the Environment, Brent Council, and Elliot Treharne, Air Quality Manager, GLA. Hywel Lloyd of think tank IPPR will be chairing an interactive panel discussion.

Air pollution contributes to poor health and is responsible for premature death. In 2016 there were 1,810 deaths on Great Britain's roads, yet nearly 9,500 people die early each year in London due to long-term exposure to air pollution, 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 and particulate matter, particularly from diesel vehicles, being most harmful. The principal source of air pollution in Brent is road traffic, though emissions from heating systems also contribute.

Cllr Eleanor Southwood, Cabinet Member for the Environment, Brent Council said:

This event will raise the profile of air pollution across Brent and the serious impact it has on all of our lives. It's great to see residents and community groups coming together to improve things, in partnership with the Council. We can all make small changes by choosing to walk, cycle, turn our engines off and choose not to buy diesel vehicles; and by working together I believe we can make a real difference to the quality of air we breathe in Brent.

Fiona Mulaisho from Clean Air for Brent added:

Air pollution knows no boundaries, and it is not halted by tawdry promises. No one is safe from it, regardless of where you live, work and play. With thousands of unnecessary deaths and life threatening illnesses caused every year, that's why it's important for people to get involved in the fight against air pollution, - today's deadly public health crisis. This meeting will be a chance to question the experts, learn what our authorities are doing locally about air pollution, and find out what we can all do.

Clean Air for Brent is a coalition of residents' associations and community groups focused on raising awareness and changing behaviours to improve air quality in Brent for all our health.

The event is taking place on Thursday 6th July, at 7-9pm at the Conference Hall, Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ. The Civic Centre is five minutes walk from Wembley Park tube station. Please use public transport.

This is a free event – all are welcome to attend. Doors open from 6.30pm for light refreshments and stalls. The meeting starts at 7pm.

Register for free tickets at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-air-we-breathe-tickets-35136212357 , at www.cleanairforbrent.wordpress.com or email cafbrent@gmail.com.

Clean Air for Brent - Public Meeting July 6th

Brent Council and new coalition group Clean Air for Brent (CAfB) invite you to our high-profile public meeting:

The Air We Breathe: how  pollution is affecting us and what we can do about it at Brent Civic Centre, Thursday 6th July, 7-9pm.

Doors open for stalls and refreshments from 6.30pm.  Free event - all are welcome.

Speakers include:

World-renowned health expert Prof Sir Michael Marmot (view profile), Simon Birkett, Founder and Director of Clean Air in London, Cllr Eleanor Southwood, Cabinet Member for the Environment, Brent Council , and Elliot Treharne, Air Quality Manager, GLA.

Hywel Lloyd of think tank, IPPR, will facilitate an interactive discussion. 

It's your chance to question the experts, learn what our authorities are doing locally about air pollution, and what you can do.

Nearly 9,500 people die early each year in London due to long-term exposure to air pollution; in 2016, there were 1,810 road deaths on Great Britain's roads.

Register for a free ticket at http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-air-we-breathe-tickets-35136212357.