Key information
Request reference number: MGLA030625-7222
Date of response:
Summary of request
Your request
Could you please provide information on what routine air quality monitoring, if any, has been conducted in the past five years at this location? As I understand it, under the Air Quality Standards Regulations and the Environment Act 1995, TfL has a legal obligation to regularly monitor air pollution in areas with significant traffic or potential environmental impacts.
If no monitoring has been carried out, I would appreciate clarification on why this is the case and assurance that it will be addressed moving forward to meet TfL’s obligations to protect public health.
I look forward to your early response and confirming what actions you are immediately going to be taking.
Is this something you can investigate, and in particular:
- Are Trencho polluting the area causing a serious health hazard?
- Despite the very busy junction and traffic at this location (five ways corner / intersection of A1 & A41) why is TFL not monitoring the pollution at this location? Is it because the results would not so bad they choose not to check it? The air quality station at The Orion Primary School is in no way indicative of the traffic pollution which is causing harm to residents health and property inc. vehicles that we are having to suffer with.
Our response
It is the responsibility of the local authority to monitor air quality within their area. The London Borough of Barnet’s air quality monitoring reports can be found here https://www.barnet.gov.uk/environmental-problems/air-quality/air-quality-monitoring. Barnet may also have some diffusion tube data which the GLA does not hold. Please contact Barnet’s officers directly about this.
In response to Point 1 above - it is the responsibility of the borough to monitor and assess sites for nuisance within their area. If you have concerns regarding Trenchco’s operation of the cement plant, the borough will be able to investigate and issue a statutory nuisance notice as required.
You may also wish to contact the Environment Agency who use the site as a depot. They have issued a permit (View registration CBDU210597) for the site so there will be conditions that Trenchco need to meet in terms of their operation.
In response to Point 2 - it is the responsibility of the borough to monitor sites within their area. Please contact the London Borough of Barnet directly for more information.