Air pollution was kept hidden from Londoners for more than two and half years. Schools in Tower Hamlets were amongst the top 20 schools in London named in the report as having the worst levels of toxic air.
Local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, has slammed the last Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, over his failure to publish the report, calling the decision “deplorable”.
A report into air quality levels in London showed that 433 schools across London were in locations where the level of nitric dioxide exceeded the EU limit. Amongst those Canon Barnett Primary School, English Martyrs RC Primary School, Woolmore Primary School and Holy Family Catholic School in Tower Hamlets, which appeared in the top 20 worst schools in the capital. However the report, commissioned by the Greater London Authority in 2013, was never published.
Schools in deprived areas accounted for 82% of the 433 schools with pollution levels exceeding EU limits.
Last week, the new Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced a consultation on a package of measures aimed at cleaning up the capital’s air. This included proposals to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone to the North and South Circular Roads and introduce a new toxicity charge on the most polluting vehicles.
Local London Assembly Member Unmesh Desai AM, said:
“It’s deplorable that Boris Johnson knew that local children were breathing toxic air and yet sat on this report.
“Some of the poorest children in London are breathing in toxic air, with lasting damage. Parents will understandably have a lot of questions about why real action wasn’t take a long time ago.
“With Sadiq Khan committing to tackling air pollution, hopefully this issue will now get the attention it deserves."
Notes to editors
- A copy of the report, Analysing Air Pollution Exposure in London, can be found here.
- According to the report the following schools in Tower Hamlets were amongst the top 20 schools with the highest average NO2 concentration within 150m of the school:
- Canon Barnett Primary School, English Martyrs RC Primary School, Woolmore Primary School and Holy Family Catholic School
- The GLA website lists the main pollutants that contribute to poor air quality in London. This includes Nitrogen Dioxide. The full list can be found at: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/pollution-and-air-quality/air-quality-and-health
- The EU limit values were set to ensure Member States took robust action to improve air quality. The full list of pollutants, and their corresponding limits, can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/standards.htm
- Last week Mayor Sadiq Khan announced a consultation on proposals to tackle air quality, which can be found here.
- Unmesh Desai AM is the London Assembly for City & East London