Call for Islington Council action as Aphekon report reveals how pollution affects schools close to busy roads

Published: 24th June, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

THE health of thousands of Islington children could be at risk after it emerged that more than half of the borough’s primary schools are within 150 yards of busy main roads responsible for high levels of pollution.

Figures show that 23  – out of 45 – primary and six secondary schools are near roads carrying 10,000 or more vehicles a day, a level leading European scientists claim in a new study could be responsible for up to 30 per cent of all new cases of asthma in children.

The figures, taken from a London-wide report, were obtained by the Clean Air London (CAL) campaign, through a freedom of information request submitted to Transport for London.

According to CAL, people living near roads used by 10,000 vehicles or more per day were also vulnerable to heart disease.

The report is part of the Aphekon project involving 60 scientists studying the effects of air pollution on health in 25 cities in 12 European countries.

Simon Birkett, director of CAL, said: “The government and London Mayor Boris Johnson must tackle an invisible public health crisis harming as many people now as we thought during the Great Smog in December 1952.”

Caroline Russell, of Islington Green Party, said that many Islington residents suffer from lung and cardiovascular disease.

She added: “We should all take action to minimise the negative impacts on both adults and children whose developing lungs are particularly vulnerable.

“This needs creative collaboration between health and transport authorities, action from the London Mayor Boris Johnson, Islington council and from residents who need advice about how best to protect their health.”

Ms Russell is also chairwoman of pedestrian pressure group Islington Living Streets. She said that local councils such as Islington have direct control of some transport issues, including roads, development control, and parking policy, which all contribute to the cocktail of urban transport emissions.

She added: “We call on Islington Council to review all of its activities from the perspective of this urgent need to reduce transport emissions, improve air quality, and tackle this threat to our children’s health.”