London Environment Strategy consultation

Please address the levels of particulates on the underground. If London streets are at illegal levels then the evidence in my handkerchief suggests it's even worse on the tube, and as a commuter I have no alternative but to suffer it for hours every day. I fear for the impact it has on us all. I am very surprised this is not included in the Air Quality section of the Environment Strategy.

Also please take action on driver behaviour, in particular speeds of 40-50mph on residential streets (apparently illegal but people feel it's their right to put others at risk of death and life-changing injury, plus it increases emissions) and please ban idling engines, including taxis and buses.

I think we need new rules and regulations, but also generally a new culture of driving responsibly. Current "20mph" limits in residential streets are purely symbolic, drivers can rush through at 40mph in sure knowledge that they won't be caught. There is also a way of driving in low gears, constantly maxing out the engine, which pollutes unnecessarily and could easily be changed. Why doesn't the council simply start by appealing to drivers' conscience and setting up traffic signs with the image of children playing and a reminder to drive slowly? It seems to work in other EU countries.

I live with my husband and 2 kids near to Notting Hill Gate. Pollution is very high and we all often have coughs. One of the major problems is cars parking and leaving their engine running while they make phone calls/eat food/collect kids etc. I think there should be an instant fine for people running their engines while parked. There should also be signs everywhere telling people to switch their engines off. Everywhere there is signage on parking information and how to pay there should be a reminder to turn your engine off while stationery. I see it ALL the time around where I live (which is overlooking parking meters) and I believe if people stopped doing it it would massively reduce pollution problems. Signage to remind people and the threat of immediate fines would reduce this problem dramatically and I would like to see this implemented. Thank you.

I have major concern about air pollution as we live in a very polluted area. An air monitor should be displayed to the public at relevant locations: bus stops, red routes, schools etc. It is crucial to improve air quality quickly and by whichever means necessary There are experts and politicians out there who should tackle the problem by implementing policies and by liaising more closely with relevant organisations in order to improve the situation NOW - not in the distant future...

Upgrading London buses to use cleaner energy
Banning lorries from entering central London
Extending the congestion charge zone
Planting more trees
building more green walls
Promoting non-polluting means of transportation, such as cycling
Killing the Heathrow expansion project
Implementing the ULEZ by 2019 at the earliest

I find it hard to get excited about air pollution monitors as they are, for the most part, a mitigating response rather than tackling the issue head on. I am very pleased to see the measures being taken to combat air pollution in the city but I couldn't help notice that an important dimension is missing. Namely, a tree-planting strategy that could increase the amount of flora in the city and have a hugely positive effect on wellbeing by both reducing Co2/increasing oxygen levels and also by psychological benefits of being closer to the natural environment. The inspired work of architect Stefano Boeri draws on this principle and certainly gives rise to an image of what our future city could look like. I would be grateful if you could let me know whether this is part of your considerations.

I am also an avid cyclist so any improvements to the cycle network is always welcomed and undoubtedly has a huge impact in improving air quality in London as people swap their cars for two wheels.

I think the problem is already bigger than this, although I would like to see plans for huge cruise ships coming up the Thames to dock in Greenwich shelved.

Fining people and charging Londoners who need to drive around the city is also unfair, without offering people an alternative solution. Most working people are stretched enough already, they can't afford to replace their battered old diesel. Offering scrapple schemes only helpful if it's a significant amount of money to put towards a newer vehicle.

Encouraging cycling is the best solution, and taking as many cars off the roads as possible. And we should be regulating delivery companies...being able to order 1 portion of fries to your door is doing nothing to help peoples' health OR the environment. It's so wasteful and lazy. Coordinating deliveries using data and algorithms to figure out the best possible times/routes for big lorries to come into the centre seems like the best solution. It would take a huge co-ordinated effort that only regulation would make possible, but imagine if you knew there weren't going to be dozens of lorries on your morning commute. I think loads more people would cycle if it was safer.

Emissions (NOx, Particulates and CO2) from helicopters on take off and landing at The NetJets Heliport in Wandsworth is an increasingly serious concern and seems to be unregulated and unmonitored. Sometimes the air is thick with fumes and aviation fuel. This along with extreme noise pollution is detrimental to the health and wellbeing of both the local population and of the wider London community.
12,000 helicopter movements are licensed every year. It is open from 0700hrs to 2300hrs 7 days per week. There is no respite.
The heliport may serve a useful purpose for the emergency services but it is questionable how many of the journeys are important enough to justify this level of air and noise pollution. The sightseeing trips in particular fall into this category - Jeopardising the health and wellbeing of the many for the pleasure of the few.
Each flight is linked to road journeys causing further pollution, noise and congestion. This is no longer acceptable as London's public transport system including Cross Rail, is now so efficient and environmentally friendly.
If London is to become a global leader on the environment and is planning to produce a zero carbon city by 2050 with its entire transport system becoming "zero emission", then the London Heliport has to be put under the spotlight and these profound issues addressed as a priority.
I would urge the following actions are considered as an initial measure:
- Stop all flights by helicopters from using the London Heliport that do not comply with strict acoustic and emissions criteria (to be defined)
- Restrict the operating hours of the Heliport to 07.30 to 19.30 Monday to Friday
- Reduce the maximum annual number of permitted helicopter movements
- Stop all flights at weekends other than essential use (the helicopter emergency medical service and police)
- Stop all tourist flights.
- Impose tight restrictions and closely monitor helicopter take-off, landing and idling of engines.

For improving air quality a comprehensive approach should be adopted.

Some measures that should be considered below
Public transports:
• Using council/public areas to generate cleaner energy (examples: solar panels on train station ceilings)
• Upgrading all London buses to use cleaner energies
• Upgrade trains/tubes to more efficient version consuming less electricity
Private transport / Traffic:
• Expanding Santander bikes to more areas of London
• Replacing traffic lights by roundabouts to improve cars efficiency
• Create incentives for electric cars (charging points, priority for parking, others)
Companies/work:
• Show importance of working from home to companies
o Improve Internet connections on residential areas
• Develop more office spaces closer to residential areas for medium/small companies to reduce transport needs
Other
• Develop more green walls around London

Returning the ban on oversized lorries on londons streets would improve quality of life. TFL commissioned transport is a major souce of polution and should be electrified. When looking at polution hotspots there appears to be a bus in throom when thinking about solutions. Tram? Why was there no option to to tick on using Royal Mail delivery as mandatory for online parcel delivery? They have an established infrastructure for storage and delivery. They also have a unionised workforce and safe operating guidlines.

The plans for the construction of HS2 train line mean that air quality will be severely degraded, and pollution levels are expected to breach the health limits. HS2 are not particularly concerned, saying to significantly decrease their proposed pollution might cost more. I am afraid the reply from the Mayor’s office to a letter we sent showed they were not that interested either.

If the Mayor was in the least bit concerned with London air quality, why has he doubled the number of flights and allowed larger airplanes through City Airport ? These planes start spewing their fumes now from 5am every day, over Central London... I live close to Tower of London and the noise and pollution from them is far in excess of the possible savings of stopping a well maintained petrol driven vehicle into Central London !

At the same time The Mayor is allowing the expansion of Heathrow !

With airports such as Stanstead (East) Luton (North) Heathrow (West) and Gatwick (South) there really is noo need for anyone to fly over London to help both pollution and lessen the risk of a terrorist incident at a London Landmark. (And that includes NEWS and private helicopters too!)

The congestion charge and cycle lanes have all increased pollution in Central London. There used to be a rush hour and outside these times the City could recover.. Now there is congestion 24/7 in the City Centre with less vehicles creating more fumes. The worst offenders are, or course, London Taxis and Tour Buses all pushing out carbon particulates as well as CO2.

Private cars are being purged from London, while Formula1 is able to have a show of racing cars with the entire West End blocked off for the event !!

The events celebrating Formula1 and permission for double the number of flights is the typical hypocrisy expected from The Mayor.. No doubt these are revenue generators, unlike, of course, small businesses and the ability to buy goods from shops and take them away in the boot of your car..

Now you complain about Amazon deliveries to those LIVING in the centre?? You created the problem !!!

Air pollution monitors could be installed on bus stops, as they mostly all have power already for the live time boards and it’s a place people wait around breathing in the air.