An air of complacency?

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Published: 21 May 2010

• IT is disturbing to discover that the topic of air quality is nowhere to be found in the latest issue of Your A-Z Directory recently published by Westminster City Council. 

Yet this topic appeared in earlier guides and continues to be found within the guides of neighbouring boroughs such as Kensington & Chelsea.

Are we really to believe that air quality is not an important topic within the City of Westminster? And if so, who has made this decision? 

Westminster has some of the busiest most congested and most polluted streets in London, especially at peak times. 

There are further problems with aircraft pollution and these are likely to increase as airports are built or expanded. 

There are additional hazards such as the volcanic ash blown in from Iceland as well as dust particles emanating from mainland Europe, all contaminating the air that we breathe. 

Add to these problems the stenches resulting from alcohol and drug use, from unclaimed rubbish and from the lack of public conveniences and it should be obvious that air pollution within Westminster exceeds European Union standards and is thus a very challenging topic indeed.

Antony Porter
Ashmore Road, W9