News from Caroline Russell: ‘Health crisis’ as COPD worse in outer London boroughs

Only two of the worst boroughs for lung disease COPD will be covered by the Mayor’s clean air zone, revealed Caroline Russell today.



Caroline quizzed the Mayor on when he will meet his manifesto promise to ‘restore London’s air quality to legal and safe levels’ at a meeting today.

She told the Mayor that some of the boroughs with the highest rates of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) associated with air pollution aren’t included in the inner London clean air zone.

In Havering people are 71 per cent more likely to have COPD compared to the London average, in Barking it is 61 per cent more likely, according to figures from the British Lung Foundation. [1]

The Mayor is currently consulting on the next phase of his clean air plans. Caroline is urging all Londoners to respond to tell the Mayor to extend his clean air zone to the whole of London not just the central zones.



Caroline Russell says:

The figures from the British Lung Foundation make for stark reading – and no one, especially those already suffering from health conditions exacerbated by pollution, should be excluded from breathing safe and clean air.



The Mayor promised to bring London’s air back to safe and legal standards but he has a long way to go – his plans don’t have a chance of making this happen until a second term of office which isn’t guaranteed.



I have been working with people and communities in outer London who all tell me they want clean air too. [2] I urge all Londoners to respond to the Mayor’s consultation and tell him everyone, in every borough, should be able to trust the air they breathe.