Report shows biggest decline in air pollution of any of London’s 'hot spots'

There was a general decline in air pollution across Wandsworth in 2017, according to the report discussed by the council’s transport committee this week.

The report says a sharp reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels in Putney is largely due to the introduction of cleaner buses. Putney has the borough’s first Low Emission Bus Zone after a 2009 council research project exposed buses as the primary source of nitrogen dioxide build up.

The council states it will continue to lobby TfL to introduce Low Emission Bus Zones elsewhere in the borough. This week Transport for London officially announced a new Low Emission Bus Zone between Wandsworth and St John's Hill. This means more than 200 buses using this busy route are now low emission vehicles.

The revised Air Quality Action Plan includes fifty actions, including measures to reduce pollution from council vehicles and buildings, promoting greener travel to staff and embedding air quality in all aspects of the council’s work, including procurement.

Wandsworth Council plans to work with partners such as GPs and local businesses and will continue to lobby the Mayor of London, Transport for London and the Government. More air quality audits will be done outside schools, clean tech companies will be invited to pilot new ideas and a dashboard of pollution levels will be developed using data from monitoring stations. See the full list of actions.

The council’s transport and air quality spokesman Jonathan Cook said, “This report shows that our hard work in cleaning up Wandsworth’s air is paying off, but we must not be complacent as it is still too high. Tackling air pollution is a priority across London, and we are determined to do all we can.

“We have always pushed for other parts of the borough to benefit from lower emission buses, and I’m pleased that TfL has listened. We will also continue to work with the construction industry and local businesses, community groups and residents on this issue, and will continue to lobby for cleaner public transport options. Together as a borough we can make our air cleaner and safer.”

All London boroughs have to submit an annual report on air quality to the Greater London Authority (GLA). In Wandsworth air quality is measured at seven sites across the borough.

November 22, 2018