Islington air pollution level breaches limits

Islington air pollution levels have already breached annual pollution limits.

King’s College London University has monitored air quality in Islington and across London and posted findings on the London Air Quality Network website.

Figures from the Greater London Authority estimate that up to 250 deaths each year in Islington are caused by air pollution.

Poor air pollution can aggravate cardiovascular and respiratory illness, particularly for those with asthma, emphysema or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) for both the young and the elderly.

Ben Hickey of Islington Green Party believes that Londoners and the local council need to take action.

He told St John’s Street: “Action must be taken to reduce vehicle traffic on our roads and pollution in our air. This May, the public gets the chance to vote for policies that will make a difference to all Londoners such as the Green Party policies to reshape our streets to make walking and cycling safer and more convenient and changes to the congestion charge to discourage unnecessary car journeys through our borough. The local council could also do much more to reduce pollution such as using parking charges better as a tool to reduce car journeys and enforcing their anti-idling policy. Something must be done. This is a health emergency and it is affecting all of us.”

Unlike Ben, Andrea Lee, a Healthy Air campaigner for ClientEarth believes that the air pollution is not a problem that is exclusive to London.

She said: “Air pollution doesn’t respect the boundaries of London boroughs, so we need a London and nationwide response to this public health problem. The Ultra Low Emission Zone due to start in 2020 should come in sooner and include inner London boroughs such as Islington, not just the small part of London currently covered by the Congestion Charge Zone.

Andrea also told St John Street news that the issue needs to be addressed on a wider scale. “ At a national level, the UK government needs to remove financial incentives for diesel vehicles and invest in public transport, walking and cycling to get the dirtiest diesels off our streets.”

The ClientEarth campaigner feels that Islington residents can still take precautions.

“People can try to protect their health by avoiding busy roads wherever possible and taking the quieter streets when walking or cycling. However, what we need in the long term is ambitious practical action by government at all levels to reduce air pollution across London and the country.”

Islington air pollution levels have already breached annual pollution limits.

King’s College London University has monitored air quality in Islington and across London and posted findings on the London Air Quality Network website.

Figures from the Greater London Authority estimate that up to 250 deaths each year in Islington are caused by air pollution.

Poor air pollution can aggravate cardiovascular and respiratory illness, particularly for those with asthma, emphysema or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) for both the young and the elderly.

Ben Hickey from Islington’s Green Party believes that Londoners and the local council need to take action.

He told St John’s Street: “Action must be taken to reduce vehicle traffic on our roads and pollution in our air. This May, the public gets the chance to vote for policies that will make a difference to all Londoners such as the Green Party policies to reshape our streets to make walking and cycling safer and more convenient and changes to the congestion charge to discourage unnecessary car journeys through our borough. The local council could also do much more to reduce pollution such as using parking charges better as a tool to reduce car journeys and enforcing their anti-idling policy. Something must be done. This is a health emergency and it is affecting all of us.”

Unlike Ben, Andrea Lee, a Healthy Air campaigner for ClientEarth believes that the air pollution is not a problem that is exclusive to London.

She said: “Air pollution doesn’t respect the boundaries of London boroughs, so we need a London and nationwide response to this public health problem. The Ultra Low Emission Zone due to start in 2020 should come in sooner and include inner London boroughs such as Islington, not just the small part of London currently covered by the Congestion Charge Zone.

Andrea also told St John Street news that the issue needs to be addressed on a wider scale. “ At a national level, the UK government needs to remove financial incentives for diesel vehicles and invest in public transport, walking and cycling to get the dirtiest diesels off our streets.”

The ClientEarth campaigner feels that Islington residents can still take precautions.

“People can try to protect their health by avoiding busy roads wherever possible and taking the quieter streets when walking or cycling. However, what we need in the long term is ambitious practical action by government at all levels to reduce air pollution across London and the country.”