| Topic: | Re:Re:Air pollution on Chiswick High Road | |
| Posted by: | Michael Robinson | |
| Date/Time: | 04/11/15 17:55:00 |
| The health issues caused by exposure to pollution as I understand them isn't that people will keel over there and then, but the affects are more long term and insidious. So a child exposed to pollution may develop breathing difficulties when older, and that affects their quality of life as an adult, perhaps resulting in them being less active, and that has additional health impacts so they end up dying sooner than they would have without the exposure. The Supreme Court has ruled that the government must take action but it seems that the Department for the Environment has passed the buck onto local authorities (GLA and boroughs in London's case) The GLA are planning an Ultra Low Emission Zone for 2020 and this will restrict the type of vehicle permitted but will only cover the congestion charging zone. An obvious answer is to have fewer vehicles driving along Chiswick High Road. Cycle Superhighway 9 is meant to be routed along Chiswick High Road and while plans haven't been released yet, if it is done properly it should mean the removal of some car parking spaces and re-allocation of some road space. It should at least reduce the incentive to drive and provide more choice to locals who would like to cycle but don't want to because of the traffic. |