Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz has marked Clean Air Day (Thursday 17th June) by welcoming the
results of a two-year study that has revealed how Council improvement works in Stratford
Town Centre have helped to produce cleaner air.
The Mayor also reiterates her commitment to clean air as a fundamental right.
In 2019, Newham implemented major improvement works in Stratford Town Centre to
facilitate an attractive, accessible and people-friendly environment, in line with the Mayor of London’s Healthy Streets Approach, and the commitment of Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz and the Council to a greener, cleaner and healthier borough.
The works included new cycle lanes, pedestrian pavement widening, green public spaces
including sustainable urban drainage, new road crossings and removal of the one-way traffic flow.
A network of air quality monitors were strategically placed around Stratford before the
scheme to capture baseline levels of pollution and monitoring has been undertaken since
work was completed.
The results of the study show an average 24% reduction in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution, a 53% reduction in particulate matter 10 micrometres in diameter (PM10), and a 17% reduction in particulate matter 2.5 micrometres in diameter (PM2.5).
These reductions were greater than the overall decline in background pollution due to
London and national air quality reduction initiatives and the Covid restrictions during the
same time period.
Prior to the scheme 3 in 4 monitoring sites in Stratford were exceeding the annual national
air quality objective for the protection of human health for NO2 After the implementation of the scheme 3 in 4 monitoring sites had fallen below the limit value, indicating that pedestrians are now exposed to safer levels of pollution on the pavement.
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz said:
“This year’s National Clean Air Day is an important time to reiterate our commitment to work to improve Newham’s air quality. Our residents have a fundamental right to clean air and as a council we have an Air Quality Action Plan underway to address this.
“The results of this scheme and the on-going monitoring are encouraging and we are
introducing a raft of further work in the borough to improve air quality including the roll out of more Healthy School Streets.
“This work is integral to the council’s Climate Emergency Taskforce in tackling the climate
emergency in our borough.
“The latest Climate Emergency report for 2020-21, which will be brought to a Full Council
meeting next Monday, clearly shows that improvements are being made and we all have a
part to play. That is why we are out with volunteers today to talk to residents about the
dangers of leaving your engine running while stationary.”
Teams of council officers and volunteers will be joined by Councillors on Thursday in East
Ham, Forest Gate, Canning Town and Stratford as part of an on-going campaign to raise
awareness of the dangers of vehicle idling.
Vehicle engine emissions pose a threat to respiratory health by contributing to severe
conditions such as asthma and heart and lung disease. Switching off is the easiest way to
minimise unnecessary pollution. With a small behaviour change, residents can practically
engage with air quality issues and make a positive difference at a critical moment.
