Event organised by local MP and Putney Environment Commission
Large turnout for the event in Putney
Hundreds of people attended the first ever Putney Clean Air Fair that was held this Saturday (18 September).
The fair was organised by Fleur Anderson MP and the Putney Environment commission and there were stalls from brilliant local organisations including Friends of Wandsworth Park, Friends of Wimbledon Park, Little Ninja UK, Wandsworth Living Streets, Roehampton Garden Society, Putney Community Gardens, the Putney Society, Friends of the Earth Wandsworth, the Putney Pollution Busters, Green the Grid and Cycle Buddies.
Putney High Street remains one of the most polluted streets in the country, but the Low Emission Bus Zone on the road has made a significant difference. It is hoped that the extension of the Ultra Low Emission Zone for the most polluting vehicles will cut air pollution by a third. A new Imperial study shows that recently introduced air quality policies could help increase the average life expectancy of a child born in London by six months.
The Putney MP says that across London, air pollution contributes to 9,400 extra deaths per year and if urgent action is not taken by the Government to reduce air pollution, 550,000 Londoners will develop diseases attributable to air pollution over the next 30 years.
Fleur Anderson at the Putney Society stall
Ms Anderson was one of only 17 MPs on the Environment Bill Committee last year, during which she proposed an amendment to embed World Health Organisation air quality targets into law. The amendment was rejected by the Government but it was just passed by the House of Lords. Since becoming an MP, she has submitted 35 Parliamentary Questions to the Government on the Environment alone and has spoken in Parliament eleven times to demand more action on pollution. She has led local campaigns to get more on-street bike hangars and to include safe cycle routes in the new plans to improve Putney High Street.
Fleur Anderson at the Putney Community Gardens stall
Speaking after the Clean Air Fair, she said, “We originally had a Clean Air Fair planned for September of last year, but we had to cancel at the last minute due to the lockdown. It was been a long wait but I couldn’t be happier with how it went. “I would like to thank all of the brilliant local organisations who took the time to bring their knowledge, ideas and enthusiasm about cleaning up our air to local residents. The care and effort that went into their stalls and presentations is inspiring.
“The number of residents who contributed to this event and came check out the stalls on the day shows the huge appetite there is in Putney, Roehampton and Southfields for cleaner air. “I am doing everything I can to put cleaning up our air high up on the agenda and events like the Clean Air Fair are vital for me to collaborate and share knowledge with all our fantastic local activists. “I’m already looking forward to Clean Air Fair 2022!”
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September 24, 2021
