Six Chiswick schools near to London's busiest roads
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Six Chiswick schools lie within 150 metres of London’s busiest and most polluted roads, according to new figures from the Green Party, which has called on local authorities to take action on road pollution.
The schools are situated near roads carrying over 10,000 vehicles a day, and include nurseries and primary schools.
Studies have shown that air pollution may cause more than 4,200 premature deaths in London every year and can lead to respiratory illnesses such as allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.
In response this week Chiswick resident Daniel Goldsmith, Green Party London Assembly candidate for the South West constituency, which incorporates three boroughs including Hounslow, and for the forthcoming by-election in Feltham and Heston, joined other Green candidates for the London Assembly to launch a petition demanding the Mayor and local authorities do more to combat air pollution in the capital.
Goldsmith said: “There are simple practical measures we can and should take to address this problem. I was talking with a lady in Chiswick last week who said she asked Hounslow Council if there was anywhere in the borough where she could refresh her cycling skills. When she was told no she sold her bicycle and now uses her car more.”
The petition calls for Boris Johnson “to reduce urgently air pollution on main roads near schools to protect the health of children” and is being launched by Green Party candidates across London. It will be presented to City Hall in the new year.
The affected schools located in Chiswick are listed below.
Name |
Address |
Belmont Primary School |
Belmont Road, W4 5UL |
Cavendish Primary School |
Edensor Road, W4 2RG |
Chiswick Community School |
Burlington Lane, W4 3UN |
Falcons Pre-preparatory School |
Burnaby Gardens, W4 3DT |
St Marys RC Primary School |
Duke Road, W4 2DF |
William Hogarth School |
Duke Road, W4 2JR |
St Mary’s Primary School is situated alongside Great West Road (A4)
Green Party Mayoral candidate Jenny Jones said: “We hope that this petition helps tell City Hall how serious the problem of air pollution is—and how urgently action must be taken.
“By cleaning up the bus fleet by 2016, taking the most polluting vans and taxis off the roads and reducing traffic across London, those who live in and visit London could enjoy healthier, cleaner, safer lives.” These simple measures could make such a huge difference in improving air quality and road safety, but there remains a lack of will to take this issue seriously.
December 7, 2011