Ruth Cadbury MP Joins Air Quality Brentford

Public meeting on air pollution, traffic and health

Air Quality Brentford is hosting a meeting for the community of Brentford and the surrounding area on this important topic of air pollution.

Ruth Cadbury MP will be attending and says "During 2017 I will continue to campaign against expansion at Heathrow, in Parliament and in the community. It’s not a done deal, as the Government's support for expansion was qualified by the assumption that noise and air pollution would not be significantly worse, and that is unachievable.

"The A4/M4 corridor has some of the worst air quality in London, and expansion at Heathrow is set to make things worse.  The meeting takes place as the Mayor considers the responses from his recent consultation on London’s air quality.

"We're more aware than ever of the impact of poor air quality on our health."

The public meeting is from 7.30pm at Brentford Free Church 17th January 2017

'We live on the A4 and are worried about the effects of pollution. My daughter and two grandchildren all suffer from breathing problems. A lot is made about aircraft pollution - noise and fumes - but most local pollution comes from the traffic that Heathrow generates which results in air pollution, noise pollution, traffic congestion and road crashes.'  [Resident of Adelaide Terrace, Brentford]

The panel will be:
Professor Frank Kelly, Professor of Environmental Health at King's College, London Caroline Russell, London Assembly Member, Green Party Spokesperson for Transport
Ruth Cadbury, MP Brentford & Isleworth 

• Frank Kelly will talk about research at King's on air pollution in London including the latest information on the public health impact.
• Caroline Russell will give an update on the new London Ultra Low Emission Zone and London healthy streets projects.
• Ruth Cadbury will raise issues local to Hounslow including the potential impact of Heathrow expansion.

On the study published by the Lancet today on the link between living near busy roads and developing dementia, Caroline Russelly said:

"Air pollution in ‎London is a public health catastrophe that no one can avoid.

“Not only are children developing asthma from air pollution caused by heavy traffic, adults who live within 50 metres of a busy road have a ‎higher risk of developing dementia.

“How many people in London‎ live within 50 metres of a busy road? I urge the Mayor to expand his ultra low emission zone and speed up his bus fleet clean up to bring our exposure to air pollution down.

“Urgent action is needed to protect the health of all Londoners.”

There will be time for questions and further discussion on ways forward for reducing air pollution locally. Everyone is very welcome at the meeting.

Air Quality Brentford is a voluntary group of local Brentford residents helping to improve air quality and can be found on Facebook, on twitter @agreenerlondon or via email airqualitybrentford@hotmail.com

Video by John Dale

January 9, 2017