Westminster has worst air in capital - Mayor pledges to tackle the problem

Published: 02 July 2010
by SIMON WROE

WESTMINSTER is the most polluted borough in the capital, putting it amongst the toxic residential areas of Europe.

In a study commissioned by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, seven of the 10 worst offending wards were situated around the West End.

Micro carbon particles, which can be responsible for premature deaths and breathing problems, are highest in Bryanston and Dorset Square in Marylebone, according to the report by the Institute of Occupational Medicine, released this week.

Air quality is worst in central areas such as Baker Street, St James’s, Hyde Park and Holborn due to the number of vehicles, although pollution contributes towards twice as many deaths in the suburbs because of the higher population densities.

More than 4,200 Londoners die early because of sustained exposure to traffic pollution, the study found.

Carl Upsall, who is chairman of the Marylebone Association, said the figures are a “major cause for concern”.

“The Mayor of London’s report on air quality in the capital confirmed that the air quality in Marylebone High Street and Bryanston and Dorset Square wards is the worst in the capital,” he said.

Traffic on Baker Street, Gloucester Place and buses and taxis on Oxford Street has compounded the problem, he added. Health experts and environmentalists have repeatedly called on Mr Johnson to extend the Low Emission Zone to central London.

The third phase of the scheme, due to come into force in October, has been delayed by two years.

A City Hall spokeswoman said the London Mayor is taking the report “extremely seriously”. “That is why he is investing around £250million a year on sustainable long-term measures to tackle air quality such as a cycling revolution, converting the bus fleet to hybrid, increasing the use of zero-polluting electric vehicles and introducing the new bus for London, which will be 40 per cent less polluting than a traditional diesel model,” she added.