Brixton Road last year, once again, had the highest levels in London of the deadly pollutant NO2 – nitrogen dioxide – according to the Clean Cities Campaign.
The campaign’s analysis of the most recent data found 15 of 73 pollution monitors in the city had recorded levels above legal limits. None of the levels recorded by the monitors met World Health Organization guidelines.
The highest levels of NO2 were recorded in Brixton Road and Putney High Street, Wandsworth, followed by Cromwell Road, Kingston Upon Thames.
Illegal levels of NO2 were also found in Ealing, Camden, the City of London, Brent, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, Sutton, Waltham Forest, and the City of Westminster.
Oliver Lord, UK head of the Clean Cities Campaign said: “If this isn’t a wake-up call then I don’t know what is. These limits were meant to be met 12 years ago, and when that eventually happens, they are still four times World Health Organization guidelines.
“We need greater certainty that London is on track to phasing out toxic diesel fumes.”
Lord said London’s ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) which includes central Brixton, must be expanded without delay and the mayor of London’s plans for a central London zero emission zone need to be expedited. “There is no time to waste,” he said.
The UK has a legal annual limit value for NO2 of 40?g/m3. World Health Organization guidelines on levels of NO2 were recently revised to 10?g/m3, taking into account the latest health evidence.
All the ULEZ does is rake in money whilst high polluters drive around all day for a few quid. At the end of the day TfL and Mr Khan are creating a two tier access to London. Those that shrug off £12.50 and those that can’t afford to pay.
This will be due to the number of wood burning stoves in those areas. All the rage a few years ago. Emissions from just one has been estimated to be the equivalent of 750 HGVs. Modern diesels are so clean and efficient if maintained like my car, that breathing in the exhaust close up, as I was whilst hitching up to my trailer will not have any effect on asthmatics like me. But when the guy 4 houses along lights up his stove, I end up wheezing if just go outside to put the bins out. But I suppose it is essier to blame road transport and collect taxes from drivers than it is to tell residents that the £6000-10000 they spent having a wood burner installed was a waste of money as it needs to be removed.
Wasn’t this published a long while ago by TfL? It showed motorcycles/scooters at less than 1% but that hasn’t stopped the Mayor trying to remove them off the roads?