GLA Green Party Member calls on London Mayor to ensure council has data for a renewed air quality strategy.

Green Party Member and activist Mark Whiley today writes:

London Assembly Member Caroline Russell, City Hall Green Party, calls on Mayor Sadiq Khan to ensure Havering Council has the data “to inform a renewed air quality strategy” and gives her support to Rainham residents suffering from toxic fumes from Launders Lane.

Last month, Havering Council Leader Ray Morgon slammed Sadiq Khan and City Hall in the local press for providing an “unsatisfactory” response to requests for recent Havering specific data on air quality across Havering.

Such data is publicly available through the London Air Quality Map, including sensors in Havering that are funded by City Hall under the Breathe London network. However, local campaigners agree that out-of-date Council produced documents show that there are other sensor stations missing from the map, and that the Council’s Air Quality Strategy is also out-of-date.

“Respiratory conditions, illnesses linked to air pollution, they shorten our lives and can both limit the distances we’re able to walk and the activities we’re able to enjoy”, says Mark Whiley, Green Party campaigner for Squirrels Heath.

“It’s common sense to reduce the risks to public health as well as the financial costs, and that’s why our elected members will be asking the Mayor to ensure our Council has the data to renew our Air Quality strategy.”

Caroline Russell AM, City Hall Greens, will raise questions from Havering to the Mayor

Speaking to the Havering Daily, Caroline Russell AM said, “In response to calls from local campaigners I’ve asked the Mayor to ensure Havering has up-to-date, relevant data to inform a renewed air quality strategy.”

“Tackling air pollution is about more than making our city safe for everyone to live, work and play, it’s also about reducing costs and hospital admissions to the NHS and ensuring we can trust the air we breathe”.

She also commented on the fires at Launders Lane in Rainham, where local campaigners, led by Green Part, Clear The Air in Havering and Mums for Lungs activist Ruth Kettle-Frisby, are legally challenging Havering Council on their recent decision not to designate the site as ‘contaminated’.

Russell said, “it’s really shocking that residents are breathing smoke from fires on contaminated land and having to keep windows and doors closed to protect their health. Getting better pollution data will help make the case for urgent action to tackle the ongoing crisis at Launders Lane.”

Russell’s question on behalf of Havering air quality campaigners is tabled for Mayor’s Question Time on Monday 30th September (today).

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