Over 150 Royal Docks residents attended a public meeting at Britannia Village Hall on Wednesday evening to voice concerns over proposals for the development of a new three-storey lorry park in Silvertown. Local London Assembly Member Unmesh Desai AM, who sat on the meeting panel with Stephen Timms MP and Newham councillors Mas Patel and Steve Brayshaw, Pat Murphy and Tony McAlmont said that if, approved, the scheme “would fly in face of the work being undertaken to address the scourge of toxic air in our community”.
The meeting, facilitated by the Royal Wharf Residents Association, was called following concerns around the application from the developer, Gazeley, to build a 40,000 square foot, three-storey distribution centre at Peruvian Wharf on the land adjacent to the Tate & Lyle Sugar factory.
The developer has proposed that the scheme will create 605 full-time equivalent jobs. However, Silvertown residents have highlighted their apprehensions, shared by Mr Desai, towards the impact that the development could have on local air quality levels, with the site potentially attracting thousands of new van and heavy goods vehicles trips each day.
Residents have already left hundreds of comments voicing their opposition to the development on Newham Council’s planning applications page regarding this issue, alongside concerns towards projected spikes in noise pollution and traffic in the local area.
Public Health England recently published data revealing that in Newham, seven in every 100 deaths of people aged 30 or over during 2017 were linked to long-term exposure to toxic air.
In April, Newham Council declared a climate emergency and announced plans to introduce measures to clean up the borough’s air. Last month, the council confirmed their proposals to install 96 air pollution monitors in schools across the borough.
Last year, the Mayor of London launched a Low Emission Bus Zone in Stratford, and through the Breathe London scheme, introduced an air quality monitoring site on Romford Road.
In April, the Mayor rolled out the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across Central London. In 2021, the ULEZ is set to be expanded to the North and South Circulars and will cover Newham.
Local Assembly Member Unmesh Desai, said:
“Newham residents suffer some of the worst levels of air pollution in the capital, and the Mayor of London and Newham Council are taking robust action to address this.
“Giving the green light to this scheme would fly in face of the work being undertaken to address the scourge of toxic air in our community.
“The overwhelming strength of feeling from residents in opposition to the lorry park proposals should not be dismissed and the Council must take their valid and pressing concerns on board.
“With the application yet to be referred to the Mayor, I will be closely monitoring the situation and raising my objections to the proposals as they currently stand. The Silvertown area is continuing to undergo significant change, but regeneration must come at the cost of the health and wellbeing of local residents.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- More information about Gazeley’s plans for the Peruvian Wharf site can be found here;
- Public Health England recently published data revealing that in Newham, seven in every 100 deaths of people aged 30 or over during 2017 were linked to long-term exposure to toxic air.
- In April, Newham Council declared a climate emergency and announced plans to introduce measures to clean up the borough’s air. Last month, the council confirmed their proposals to install 96 air pollution monitors in schools across the borough;
- Last year, the Mayor launched a Low Emission Bus Zone in Stratford, and through the Breathe London scheme, introduced an air quality monitoring site on Romford Road;
- In April, the Mayor launched the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across Central London. In 2021, the ULEZ is set to be expanded to the North and South Circulars and will cover Newham;
- Unmesh Desai AM is the London Assembly Member for City and East.
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