Pollution levels in Wimbledon currently exceeding legal limits
The Conservative group on Merton Borough Council are to put forward a motion at the forthcoming Council meeting about air quality in the area.
The 'non-strategic' motion will be debated at the full Council meeting on 12 July.
The motion has been raised after Clean Air Merton highlighted figures which showed that 12,000 people in the borough are subject to toxic levels of pollution. Areas of Wimbledon including The Ridgway, Merton Road and Haydons Road regularly exceed the legal nitrogen dioxide legal limit of 40 ug/m3.
Greenpeace research states that 13 nurseries and schools across the borough are situated in areas with illegal air quality and plans submitted to Merton Council for construction of a concrete batching plant at Waterside Way have led to a large number of objections citing the potential adverse impact on the air quality.
Merton Council had issued nearly 1,000 parking permits for diesel vehicles since introducing its "green levy".
The motion praises existing efforts by the Air Quality Task Force to improve the situation but says more must be done.
It goes on to state: "This Council therefore resolves to redouble its efforts to tackle air pollution and the danger it poses to the health of Merton’s residents, and it calls on the Cabinet to: a) Look at new and bold ways that the borough can address this issue, in conjunction with the Mayor of London and national government, for incorporation into the 2017- 22 Air Quality Action Plan due to go out for public consultation this year; and b) Ensure that this consultation is widely promoted and publicised by the Council and that ideas and suggestions to improve air quality are encouraged from individuals, residents’ associations, local campaign groups, community organisations and business representatives right across Merton for consideration prior to final adoption of the new Action Plan. "
July 9, 2017
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