Ealing council are consulting on air quality, and have released two documents setting out their plans to tackle poor air quality in the borough – the first is “Ealing Council Air Quality Strategy (63 pages)”, and the second “London Borough of Ealing Air Quality Action Plan (40 pages)”. The council is inviting views in the accompanying short consultation here.

The consultation takes only a few minutes to complete, mostly asking you indicate how you would score your level of interest and support for the specific proposals set out in the document, as well as asking how easy the report and associated information is to read. There are two questions that ask for “any other comments” where you can enter free text and make specific proposals, and where we would encourage you to provide your feedback! If you want to imagine what could be achieved, try checking out the Car Free cities by Possible for example, and see the results of our event earlier in 2022.

Ealing Transition is also pleased to announce that we have been awarded an air quality sensor as part of the Breathe London Community Program. We will be working with Breathe over the coming weeks and months to install the sensor and to get it running. Follow us by email, twitter, facebook or Instagram for more details.

The Breathe London network is run by the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London – the same group who run the London Air Quality Network. The group combines air pollution science, toxicology and epidemiology to determine the impacts of air pollution on health and has over 20 years of experience running large urban air quality monitoring network

Ealing Council has released its draft local plan, a) setting out its strategy and related targets for the next 15 years of council planning decisions, and b) inviting feedback. The local plan provides the framework against which the community can hold the council accountable. This is your opportunity to comment on the Council’s priorities and ambitions, supporting the Council, and ensuring that Ealing is urgently and consistently making planning decisions that work towards a prosperous and sustainable future. The deadline for reply is 25 January 2023.

Detailed information about the plan can be found on the council website here, with detailed documents here, and a summary here. The documents are rather long, so we have unpacked aspects of it below.

The report is broken down into four main sections (1) Chapters 1 to 3 – including an Introduction and Ealing’s proposed “spatial strategy”, (2) Chapter 4 – including Specific “Town Plan” proposals for Acton, Ealing, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt, Perivale and Southall, (3) Chapter 5 – discussing Development Management Policies, and (4) Appendices to the report providing (a) a Monitoring Framework with relevant targets, (2) A Glossary of terms, (3) An Atlas of Change (detailing changes to Green Belt designations and Metropolitan Open Land designations), and (4) specific Consultation Questions.

Although many of the consultation questions refer to the Town Plans, there are a number of general questions on which you may wish to comment including:

• (Chapter 3, page 51) Do you support the vision that is set out in this Local Plan?
• (Chapter 3, page 52 to 54) Do you support the priorities in this tackling the climate crisis policy?
• (Chapter 3, page 58) Do you support the priorities set out in this fighting inequality policy?
• (Chapter 3, page 60 to 62) Do you support the priorities in this creating good jobs and growth policy?

• (Chapter 5, page 484) What are your views on the development proposals on green and open spaces?
• (Chapter 5, page 485) Do you support our ambition to set higher targets for urban greening?
• (Chapter 5, page 486) Do you support our ambition to set higher targets for Carbon Offsetting?
• (Chapter 5, page 487) Do you support the introduction of a CIL?
• (Chapter 5, page 488) Do you have any comments about enabling development?

Ealing Council has identified “Tackling the Climate Crisis”, “Fighting Equality”, and “Creating Good Jobs and Growth” as its priorities. Ealing Transition has provided its comments on the consultation (copy attached here – downloads as a PDF). While we welcome the general ambition, we note the lack of detailed targets in the document, and challenge the notion of the climate and ecological emergency as a “cosy crisis” in which we carry on with the usual assumptions of business as usual. We encourage the Council to be more ambitious and take urgent action now addressing the climate and ecological emergencies, and supporting the shift to a sustainable economy. What do you think? Let the council have your views by 25 January 2023.

Ealing Transition’s Response to the DRAFT Local Plan – here (downloads as PDF)

Ealing Transition hosted a lively and informative event on air quality on 3rd July entitled, ‘The Problem with our Air’, hearing from Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, whose campaigning led to the first recording of air pollution as a cause of death at an inquest, and whose TED talk can be seen here, Dr Ian Mudway, Senior Lecturer at the School of Public Health, Imperial College London (presentation slides here 10MB) and Andrea Carnevali, local parent and clean air campaigner (slides here 4MB).

What emerged is that air pollution is dangerously high across London, it has significant effects on us all, but particularly on children’s development and very significant impacts on many aspects of our long term health, including heart disease, dementia and of course many lung conditions.

Our post talk discussion explored what we can do as a community to improve this hidden but deadly problem.

We agreed that while this issue needs to be addressed at a national and global level, supported by us all, there is also much we can do locally to make a difference.

We noted that there are existing regulations which are poorly enforced but which can make a direct impact on local pollution and raise awareness.

Actions proposed

Install pollution monitors in all schools to give real-time daily information to all to raise awareness of air pollution.

Install pollution monitors along major roads (Uxbridge Road) and public areas to inform & warn.

Enforcement of ‘no-idling’ by enforcement officers

Enforcement of ‘no parking’ in cycle lanes to improve safety and attractiveness of cycling.

Establish traffic-free ‘School Streets’ for all schools with education campaigns and camera enforcement

Improvement of all schools’ outdoor environments to enhance environmental quality and health benefits.

How to achieve these actions?

Use access to pollution monitoring to raise awareness and prompt action

Request the Council use its powers to act effectively to bring in and enforce these actions

Ask questions directly on progress at Council meetings.

Join Mums for Lungs local campaigning (Mums for Lungs link is here)

Contact and work with school governors, parents and staff to address air pollution concerns, use school newsletters, events and practical steps.

Ensure support for cycling to school. Schools to access active travel help via https://stars.tfl.gov.uk/ & LB Ealing Schools Team.

Support schools in setting up ‘Environment Action Hubs’ in each school.

Connect schools via ActForEaling schools climate action hubs to gain support and resources (link here)