There were 25 hours in 2018 where nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in Putney breached European Union guidelines.
However, this was a large decrease when compared to 2017, which saw 76 hours of high NO2 levels.
The fall is even starker when compared to 2016, when there were 1271 breaches. Overall, air pollution levels fell again last year.
Initial results from the council’s air quality monitoring stations at seven sites across the borough show a drop in harmful pollutants.
In Putney, mean levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) measured were 66 micrograms per cubic metre. In 2017 the figure was 76.
Previous research carried out by the council showed that buses were a large contributor to pollution in Putney.
The council lobbied TfL for cleaner buses and last year Putney became the capital’s first low-emission bus zone.
The council also introduced a daytime delivery ban for lorries and is currently working with TfL to improve traffic flow down Putney High Street.
Elsewhere in the borough, levels of PM10, which is small particles of pollution carried in the air, fell across the board.
The number of days that levels exceeded EU limits halved in Nine Elms (from 16 to 8) and Lavender Hill (4 to 2) and fell from 11 to three in Tooting High Street.
These figures will now be sent for checking by independent auditors and will form part of the council’s annual report on air quality submitted to the Greater London Authority later this year.
Last year Wandsworth revised its five year Air Quality Action Plan, with a further 50 actions to reduce pollution levels, including measures to reduce pollution from council vehicles and buildings, promoting greener travel to staff and embedding air quality in all aspects of the council’s work, including procurement and planning.
Wandsworth is working with TfL to bring in cleaner buses across the borough, with an additional low-emission bus zone established in August between Wandsworth and St John’s Hill.
TfL estimate an NO2 reduction of 91 per cent along this route. Read TfL’s evaluation of both routes.
The council is also working closely with the construction industry to reduce pollution from building sites.
It has a dedicated construction site compliance officer inspecting sites, and an air quality officers working with the whole Nine Elms community, including schools.
Reducing pollution around schools is a key aim. Enforcement officers have been trained to issue fixed penalty notices to drivers who leave their car engines idling and officers have visited schools and talked to parents to persuade them not to leave engines running at pick-up and drop-off time.
Source: https://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/ne ... -suggests/
Menu
