MP Calls for Hammersmith Bridge Reopening on Clean Air Day

Fleur Anderson says pollution data for Putney remains worrying

Fleur Anderson MP measuring pollution locally

June 20, 2023

Putney’s MP has demanded action from the government over air quality as she release new data on local pollution on Clean Air Day 2023.

Among the measures she says must be implemented as soon as possible is the full reopening of Hammersmith Bridge.

Fleur Anderson’s work on promoting better air quality in her constituency has included taking air quality readings on Upper Richmond Road outside Putney Leisure Centre, on Lower Richmond Road, and on three points down Putney High Street. She says the readings for ultra fine particles in all three locations fluctuated between 13,000 and 25,000 ufp per cm3, with some noticeable spikes of up over 100,000 for short periods.

Clean Air Day, which took place on Thursday 15th June, is the UK's largest air pollution campaign. It aims to drive a positive shift in public knowledge and action on air quality, sharing information on how to make air cleaner and healthier for everyone.  

The MP said, “Clean air is a human right. As a mother, I often worry about the damage to my children’s lungs caused by walking down busy roads to school when they were little. For the sake of the next generation, we must commit to rapid and impactful action to ensure the air is clean for all of us to breathe. It is extremely depressing to see that the annual limit for air pollution on Putney High Street was hit on March 21st – just 80 days into the year. We need Hammersmith Bridge to reopen to bring down the congestion and pollution in Putney.”

Ms Anderson has also spoken in Parliament calling for government action on air pollution, most recently leading a debate against the expansion of Heathrow airport.

However, it is not all bad news as the MP has also shared positive new figures on Putney travel. New figures from TfL highlight that buses on the High Street now meet Ultra Low Emission standards and that progress is now being made towards zero emissions, with the route 39 changing this year. The change to route 39 will mean that only 2 buses scheduled per hour in Putney will not be zero emissions and work continues to make all bus routes zero bus routes.

Ms Anderson continued, “It is always important to celebrate progress when it’s made – and I’m delighted that we are on our way to zero emissions bus travel in Putney. The ULEZ introduction has already reduced the number of children going to hospital with asthma problems by a third and I have recently submitted by report on improving walking, cycling and wheeling to Wandsworth Council. Part of improving air quality is helping to support positive behaviour change – it should be safe and preferable to cycle, walk and wheel whenever possible, rather than take a car journey. The recommendations in my report highlight hotspots and show where residents want to see change. You can read it online at my website.

“The Council have also created a new school street at Riversdale School in Southfields which is very welcome. They join all the other local schools where making streets car-free at drop -off and pick-up times has made the journey to school safer and less polluted.”

Clean Air Day 2023 comes in the same week that London saw a city-wide pollution alert issued to residents.

Larissa Lockwood, Director of Clean Air at Global Action Plan, the environmental charity behind Clean Air Day, said, ‘As both a campaigner and a parent, it is deeply concerning to see that Londoners will not be breathing clean air in the near future and that our health continues to be put at risk from harmful air pollutants. The recent reductions in air pollution are encouraging and show that this is a problem we can solve. We now need to do more and quicker – this includes cleaner vehicles on the roads, fewer vehicles on the roads and an end to the unnecessary use of wood burners."