Leaf-blowers are the new target for environmentalists
Published: 12 August, 2010
by TOM FOOT
FIRST it was gas-guzzling 4x4 people carriers on the school run. Then it was the double basement excavations.
Now environmentalists in Hampstead have another bête noire: petrol-powered leaf-blowers.
Campaigners are taking their fight to Boris Johnson hoping to persuade the Mayor of London to outlaw the machines from Camden which, they say, will save future generations from respiratory illness. Pollution expert Simon MacReynoldson said: “I am in no doubt these machines are a nest of serious problems, the least of which, believe it or not, is the noise. They are banned in over 300 US cities on air pollution grounds.”
He said the blowers – used by the council and home-owners – are spewing out “inordinate” levels of carbon monoxide and harmful greenhouse gases.
He said tests on dust blown about by leaf-blowers had revealed traces of lead, pesticides, insect parts and animal faeces.
Mr MacReynoldson added: “The next time you have the misfortune to witness a blower in use, try to somehow overlook the noise and the dust and experience those fumes. We are hoping Boris Johnson and the London Assembly might consider banning them from local authority use.”
Blowers are mainly used by the council to clear leaves in the tree-lined roads near Hampstead Heath and other parks and squares.
Hampstead Town ward Conservative councillor Kirsty Roberts said: “The roads are groaning with the biggest cars in history but suddenly very powerful petrol engines are in use all over the very spaces intended to provide respite from pollution.”
But parks bosses argue it would be too expensive to pay people to sweep up leaves.
A Camden Council spokesman said: “A total ban would require a vast rise in our parks workforce, increasing costs substantially for borough residents. Camden’s environmental credentials are consistently high, with eight of our parks receiving Green flag awards this year.”
Comments
Leaf Blowers
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2010-10-01 10:58.Has Camden Council done any studies on the use of these machines ?
I am not aware that their users go much quicker than someone with a broom and shovel since the forceful currents of air blow the leaves all over.
To claim that "a vast rise in the parks workforce would be needed" seems something of an exaggeration, was a a large part of the workforce laid off when the machines were introduced?
More to it than this article explains
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2010-08-17 21:45.See www.zapla.org for the Los Angeles, California experience in banning gas blowers in 1997 and what we learned. The same erroneous arguments are still being made. See www.quietorinda.com for an upcoming effort to ban all blowers; and http://www.tv1.com/vlogs/167/posts/246 for several short educational videos, including one re cardiovascular problems from small Particulate Matter. ALL blowers blow up air pollution that can drift for 3 days, unseen but inhaled by all. Your legislation should cover them all and future inventions or fuels; see various ordinance examples http://www.zapla.org/overview/blowerdef.html. HOW does your parks staff KNOW it will "be too expensive"? Have they done a fair, unbiased timed comparison between blowers and rakes/brooms. Not guesses like this: http://www.zapla.org/present/letters/whittierzap.html, but like http://www.zapla.org/present/dwptest.html and the video Rake vs Leaf Blower at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXI681M2hDE . L.A. and other towns have not had large increases after blower legislation was passed...only misleading, unsubstantiated "claims" from opponents to proposed legislation.
Leaf-blowers should be BANNED
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2010-08-17 13:34.The Bloomsbury Association supports the campaign to BAN these infernal machines. They are a HEALTH HAZARD.
Camden's reasoning that COST justifies their use is totally rediculous when all the evidence points to the fact that they are a servious health hazard.
They break every noise limit regulation and the plumes of pollutants they send into the air choke and blind everyone that comes into contact with them. You only have to look at the amount of protective gear the operatives wear to understand the dangers.
Camdens environmental credentials need to be re-visited. I suppose it was Parks that awarded them!
See our article here:
http://www.casweb.org/bloomsburyassociation/news/item?item_id=957419
The Bloomsbury Association
Blowers - Hot air and ignorance = Camden Council
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2010-08-13 15:01.Has none of very well paid managers not heard of battery powered leave blowers. Once again management look at saving money and ignoring the health risks to the workers and residents. It seems that Camden prefure to spend thousands on bonus payments for the very people who claim to manage these services.
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