Air pollution in East Dulwich - what can we do?

[tomszekeres]

🎬 Where do we begin?

There have been A LOT of threads about LTNs.

I'm going to sidestep that debate here - there's a lot of anger, bad faith, and time being wasted.

The one positive to come out of this, is that air pollution now seems to be something we all care about. Great.

Finally we can all agree that this is a big problem, and that we need to solve it. Good.

👇 Here are the facts

While levels of NOx and PM2.5 have been improving over the past few years:

1. East Dulwich has illegal levels of air pollution. They were illegal 10 years ago. They were illegal one year ago. They are illegal now.

2. The primary cause is people burning stuff (whether fossil fuels or wood) where clear alternatives now exist

3. There are (long-standing) reasons we haven't made more progress:

 a. The 'dash for diesel' - 2000s gov policy incentivised the purchase of diesel vehicles

 b. More people locally using wood-burning stoves

 c. Increased ownership of SUVs (Diesel & Petrol) - this isn't Chelsea!

 d. Growth of ecommerce = more diesel delivery vehicles :(

 e. Private hire cars/Uber (which spend most of their time circling around waiting for someone to press the button)

4. Air pollution causes asthma, heart disease, strokes, lung cancer, infertility, and premature birth.

5. The most vulnerable people, like one of my daughters, a) have lung conditions and b) live on main roads.

6. We all can't help but cause some harm. But we can do a lot to minimise that harm.

💭 And here are some opinions?

1. We need to solve the problem, not rearrange the deckchairs. The internal combustion engine needs to go.

2. Regulation and big business are important. But we have power as consumers, as voters, as small business owners, and as individuals.

3. Our children and grandchildren will be *horrified* that we continued to burn fossil fuels once we knew the full consequences.

4. Change is going to be difficult, it's going to be unpopular, and it's going to hurt *some* people and *some* businesses. We shouldn't pretend otherwise.

⚠️ A caveat

Not all of the steps below are possible for everyone. Some of them are only applicable to able-bodied people. Some of them are only going to be possible for homeowners, or people with spare cash. But to be honest, people who have more cash to spare, tend to be a bigger part of the problem.

🙋🏾‍♀️ As an individual

1. Avoid private car ownership.

It's hard, but doable for most able-bodied households. More than 50% of South Londoners manage, and most likely, so can you (although appreciate there are many exceptions). We've got twins. When they came home from six months in hospital, we had to lug an oxygen tank everywhere we went, but we did it. And we still don't own a car.

2. Do not use your wood-burning stove.

They're absolutely terrible for air quality (both internal and external). If you have one already, stop using it. Completely. It's harming your health, as well as your neighbours'. You might have installed it when you didn't know how harmful it was, and that's OK. What's not OK is to continue using it, even with "clean" fuel (it's BS).

3. Consider buying an e-bike (or dare I say it, a scooter)

Trying is believing - book a test ride at Fully Charged (next to London Bridge). Only catch? You need the space to store it indoors (we don't).

4. Use an electric car club.

We use Zipcar Flex. It's great. And all of their vehicles are compatible with ISOFIX car seats, so you can still get about with the kids. You never need to worry about recharging, and insurance, tax, everything, is included.

5. If you need to own a car, switch to an electric model, and buy it second hand.

The total cost of ownership will very likely be less than a fossil-fuel vehicle. Powering it is cheaper as well as cleaner, and charging points are everywhere now. We've started borrowing a 2015 Nissan Leaf for trips outside of London, and with rapid charging units you can get your electric car charged to 80% for about ?4, in about 20 minutes.

6. Cancel Amazon.

Single items delivered by diesel vans = not a sustainable model. And for every branded electric van, there are 20 more white vans belching out diesel working for Amazon.

Plus they're hollowing out our high street, paying their "self-employed" drivers a pittance, and treating their warehouse workers like expendable robots. All the while avoiding tax, hoarding cardboard (which forces other retailers to use plastic), and squeezing their suppliers.

Here's how to cancel:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GDK92DNLSGWTV6MP

7. Shop Local

It might be a touch more expensive (local shops pay their taxes and their staff), but if you walk or cycle to the shops, this is better than regular ecommerce.

8. Shop from ecommerce businesses that are fossil fuel-free

Like, say, Subship (I'm afraid this is a shameful plug). Just make sure that they are paying their drivers and riders a living wage, and not greenwashing. :)

Also of interest: https://dulwichdelivers.com

🙅 Mitigation

Prevention is better than mitigation, but it's going to take time and political will to ban the internal combustion engine from our streets.

1. Walk, cycle, scoot

Toxic air is higher inside cars than outside - so for the benefit of your children, walk, scoot, or cycle them to nursery or school.

2. Wherever possible, use side streets rather than main roads.

Kids are exposed to five times more pollution while travelling than they are while at home or in school. Take advantage of the LTNs even if you don't support them.

3. Green your front garden

If you're a homeowner on a main road, and your front garden is just gravel or slate, replant it with greenery. It will reduce your home's exposure to pollution by a decent amount - as much as 20-30% if you're starting from nothing. You'll also be helping with biodiversity, and helping your neighbours too. Ours was done by the excellent Gilder's Leaves.

🚚 Businesses

1. If you offer local delivery, consider using a cycle courier (like Pedal Me or Hugo's Eco-delivery), or an electric van courier (DM me if interested).

2. If your business requires a small van, consider leasing an electric one like the Nissan E-NV200, which I believe is the one used by Hop Burns & Black.

3. For businesses that require larger vans (that currently need to run on fossil fuels) - ensure drivers don't idle when parked at the side of the road (idling while parked is an order of magnitude worse than stationary traffic, because of how close it is to the pavement). It's very rare that there isn't a diesel engine idling somewhere on our walk to nursery.

4. Implement a Cycle to work scheme, and if you have space, make sure you have decent cycle storage and showers for your team.

5. If you sell fuel for wood burners (even "clean" fuel), or wood burners themselves please stop. They're lovely in the countryside where there's plenty of ventilation, but in built-up areas they cause significant harm.

🏘 Communities

1. Fundraise to build green walls for schools and nurseries beside main roads (these roads will be busy with or without LTNs)

Cf: https://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/green-defence-air-pollution-halves-a-year-after-goose-green-primary-gets-its-green-screen/

2. Be kind to people who can't make the switch

Lots of key workers (e.g. nurses) and carers need to drive. Many can't afford to live near hospitals, schools, nurseries, etc., and due to the nature of their shifts they travel at times of day that where public transport is too unsafe or unreliable. Many families of children with disabilities (and disabled adults) also need to use cars, and many won't have the means to switch to greener options.

[ab29]

Make public transport cheap and reliable.

Produce fewer cars / stop producing cars.

Make people pay for using the roads.

Introduce tax if a household owns more than one car - or even make it illegal (with some exceptions).

Ban wood burners.

And start from improving air quality for people living on the most polluted roads such as South Circular.

[legalalien]

Thanks for this positive thread. I have been trying to wean myself off Amazon over lockdown, with I'd say an 80% success rate.

I would add: try and buy long lasting and sustainable clothing, and give up the practice of ordering lots of clothes online (including in multiple sizes), trying them on, and then sending lots of it back. Real waste of resource, both because much of the stuff sent back gets thrown out, and because of the delivery journeys in both directions.

Easy to say as I'm no kind of fashionista and have some clothing items that are 20+ years old. But still.

If you are doing a weekly grocery shop online, choose the "green" option and try to choose a time that is outside the road closure windows as this helps reduce traffic congestion/ idling and makes your delivery driver's life easier.

[heartblock]

Fabulous thread. Public transport. Stop building on green spaces and stop cutting down trees. Re-use before recycle. Grants for electric bikes. Force schools to have a no drive policy for parents...lots more.

[legalalien]

Another thing which might sound a bit strange: you can reduce your car journeys/ give up a car without switching to cycling. Walking, public transport, and the occasional taxi or PHV works fine. I say this because cycling is often presented as the alternative option to car use, and some people might not want to cycle/ have somewhere to store their bike, and be put off as a result.

[Nigello]

Walk more. Drive less. Minimise deliveries. 🤷‍♂️

[rachp]

This is a great thread, thank you. I?m sure most of us can look at your very helpful list and see areas where we can do more. I was thinking about giving the hedge in my front garden a good trim but may be I will leave it a while longer....

[hopskip]

Understand our local communities and their composition, stop anodyne statements and get real about the complexity and staging for change? You are in a privileged position it seems. Do you refuse/can afford any non-recyclable packaging in your buying habits for example?

Nigello Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Walk more. Drive less. Minimise deliveries.

> 🤷‍♂️

[hpsaucey]

@tomszekeres

LOVE your post!

HP

[pinkladybird]

Thanks for that post. Some good ideas. I have been really concerned about the air quality in Dulwich myself. I bought a particulate monitor and I had to stop using it because it would freak me out and spoil my day. Even on seemingly fresh days, the air can be awful - it is impossible to tell. I guess that is why noone seems to care that much. Winter is especially bad due to the large number of woodburning stoves. I think it is good to highlight that as so many people don't realise.

I'm afraid I am not very positive. I think unless there is drastic action through regulation nothing will really change. Maybe the most effective thing an individual can do is to let MPs/councillors/council officers know that you do actually care about your air, vote in those who promise to effect changes, and lend support where steps are taken - no matter how small - and ask for more.

I don't suppose anything will change in time for me - and knowing what I know, both the health effects and how high the levels can be, I feel no choice but to move out before it is too late. Maybe that is what happens - people who care/know enough leave.

[malumbu]

Nigello Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Walk more. Drive less. Minimise deliveries.

This has hit the nail on the head. The only things that I can add:

Air quality is a short term issue, climate change is global and is screwing the planet up.

Air quality has been an issue for a few hundred years, climate change since the industrial revolution, why are you waking up to this now?

Think beyond your local boundaries, think nationally and globally

Stop blaming others, think about what you can do in every aspect of your life.

{PS this is the Lounge territory, no more threads on the LTN perleese]

[Earl Aelfheah]

Good thread. ULEZ will help, but ultimately people need to get rid of their cars if they can. Get smaller cars if they can?t. Walk, cycle and bus / train more. Stop burning wood. All the things you say. Ultimately it will need tougher regulations and people to change their behaviour.

[Cyclemonkey]

Exactly this. We all have to take a hit on our lifestyles. We live ina very walkable city with pretty decent public transport, if you are able bodied it is perfectly possible to live here without a car - we have done it for twenty years.

Some times a little extra planning is needed but it rrally isn't too much of a problem.

[tomszekeres]

pinkladybird Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thanks for that post. Some good ideas. I have been

> really concerned about the air quality in Dulwich

> myself. I bought a particulate monitor and I had

> to stop using it because it would freak me out and

> spoil my day.

Oh gosh, sorry to hear this! Which one did you buy? It's not *much* help, but if you can get used to using it, it is possible to minimise your exposure (although bear in mind that this is for commuters):

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/archive/news/sphes/king's-study-reveals-how-we-can-reduce-exposure-to-air-pollution-in-our-daily-commute

> Even on seemingly fresh days, the

> air can be awful - it is impossible to tell.

The weather has a massive impact on air pollution, and in surprising ways. High pressure is generally pretty bad. This is one of the reasons why directly monitoring air pollution for short periods of time isn't *always* effective at picking up when there's an increase or decrease.

> I guess that is why noone seems to care that much.

Hopefully, this is changing!

> Winter is especially bad due to the large number

> of woodburning stoves. I think it is good to

> highlight that as so many people don't realise.

Yes indeed - I think this is the crux of it.

We're all obsessing over road traffic right now (which is still very important, don't get me wrong), but this is genuinely something we could help to change in SE22 - discussing this in the lounge isn't going to get the message out to the people who need to see it.

And now would be a really good time to do that - despite disagreements it seems we can all agree that we should clean up the air.

> I'm afraid I am not very positive. I think unless

> there is drastic action through regulation nothing

> will really change. Maybe the most effective thing

> an individual can do is to let

> MPs/councillors/council officers know that you do

> actually care about your air, vote in those who

> promise to effect changes, and lend support where

> steps are taken - no matter how small - and ask

> for more.

Anyone reading this - here's a direct link to write to our London Assembly members:

https://www.writetothem.com/write?who=all&type=LAE&pc=SE22+8LY&fyr_extref=https%3A%2F%2Ffaxyourmp.com

Write to Helen Hayes MP:

https://www.writetothem.com/write?who=61812&pc=SE22+8LY&fyr_extref=https%3A%2F%2Ffaxyourmp.com

Write to Goose Green Councillors:

https://www.writetothem.com/who?pc=SE229EX&fyr_extref=https%3A%2F%2Ffaxyourmp.com

Write to Dulwich Hill Councillors:

https://www.writetothem.com/who?pc=SE22%208JJ&fyr_extref=https%3A%2F%2Ffaxyourmp.com

Write to Dulwich Village Councillors:

https://www.writetothem.com/write?who=all&type=LBW&pc=SE22+8LY&fyr_extref=https%3A%2F%2Ffaxyourmp.com

Anywhere else:

https://www.writetothem.com/

It genuinely does make a difference - I've had Helen Hayes raise two issues directly in parliament after writing to her, and in one case the law eventually ended up changing.

> I don't suppose anything will change in time for

> me - and knowing what I know, both the health

> effects and how high the levels can be, I feel no

> choice but to move out before it is too late.

> Maybe that is what happens - people who care/know

> enough leave.

Sorry to hear this. The bigger trend is that things are getting better, even though change is happening too slowly, but appreciate that even ULEZ isn't drastic enough. Lots of exemptions, including for lots of Diesel Commercial vehicles.

[tomszekeres]

By the way, if anyone is interested - I'm going to be talking about this very topic at an online event on Monday evening - would be great to see some of you there.

Book here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/clean-air-for-everyone-how-to-tackle-air-pollution-in-south-london-tickets-156250871563

Mon, 7 June 2021 20:15 ? 21:15 BST

[Penguin68]

Get smaller cars if they can?t

The size of the car is irrelevant as regards pollution - it is the cleanness of the engine which is. An all electric SUV produces less pollution than a petrol bubble car.

Car size is about envy and a socialist belief that nobody should either have money or be allowed to spend it. Southwark council's intention to drive private cars out of Southwark is about 'private' not 'car'. Hence they are prepared to wage war against car ownership regardless of the fact that they are diverting 'pollution' to areas of multiple occupancy and state schools - they care more about private car ownership and how to stop it than about public health - for them the fact that they can cloak their actions under a banner of public health just adds amusement to the exercise. The impact of behavioural changes arising from Covid (including working from home) and the impact of the ULEZ extension in autumn might have been a marker to see what the new normal is regarding local pollution (and its sources) before implementing divisive road closures. But that it only relevant if it is pollution, and not private car ownership, which is the target. Which it isn't.

[Cyclemonkey]

War on the motorist? Give over. The thing about losing your privileges is it can feel a lot like inequality.

Private transport has a place, of course it does, but decades of privileging cars has led to squeezing out other users of public space or making it activly unpleasant for them.

[malumbu]

tomszekeres why are you getting involved now? The UK has been exceeding air quality standards ever since they were introduced - in 2008 the Ambient Air Quality Directive set tighter limits on pollution hotspots https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/uk-eu-policy-context

The Government has also been ordered by the Supreme Court to meet these limits in as short as time as possible.

You will understand that I believe that many have only woken up to air pollution since LTNs were introduced. I hope that your seminar will go broader than LTNs and look far more at what we can do, rather than blaming others or having an excuse for taking action.

https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/uk-eu-policy-context

[heartblock]

Why would you ask 'why are you getting involved now?' why assume that they haven't been actively campaigning on clean air issues before? This is exactly the attitude that irritates me, the assumption that anyone anti these particular LTNs and is voicing an opinion on them are only 'now' thinking about air pollution and green politics. It's very patronising.

Just to add as an edit..Tom, who started this post added some really interesting dimension to the discussion and it's a pity that instead of joining in a discussion a certain 'someone' just personalises the argument.

[legalalien]

And so what if people are only getting involved now? Maybe previously they were getting on with their lives and not thinking about these issues, and have only now started engaging. Engagement is a good thing, surely? You don?t get to decide what the motives of strangers on the internet might be, sorry.

[heartblock]

Exactly Legal - I thought the opening post was detailed and wide ranging - I imagine that Tomskzekeres has been involved in campaigning for cleaner and a greener environment for a long time, it was far too detailed to be from someone 'just getting involved now'.

[malumbu]

I've been campaigning for many years, attended (and occasionally presented at) many events, have long since changed my behaviour. I don't recall this level of discussion in the past on this Forum - so it appears that many have only woken up to air quality in the last year. It would crop up on the Lounge from time time, where we could have a reasonably balanced discussion. I'll dig up some of the earlier discussions if you want me to demonstrate that point.

I've also posted some wider stuff on air quality, which gets very little traction, for example recently I put details of the Hackney Ultra Low Emission Zone - a very brave step and Southwark would be crucified if they went this far!

Interesting debate about zero carbon on the repeat of Any Questions currently on Radio 4, where one of the speakers was stressing personal responsibility. Exactly.

heartblock Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Why would you ask 'why are you getting involved

> now?' why assume that they haven't been actively

> campaigning on clean air issues before? This is

> exactly the attitude that irritates me, the

> assumption that anyone anti these particular LTNs

> and is voicing an opinion on them are only 'now'

> thinking about air pollution and green politics.

> It's very patronising.

> Just to add as an edit..Tom, who started this post

> added some really interesting dimension to the

> discussion and it's a pity that instead of joining

> in a discussion a certain 'someone' just

> personalises the argument.

[first mate]

malambu, you sound a bit like you are competing for plaudits and 'airtime' with Tom;

[tomszekeres]

Hey everyone - let's be kind to each other. It's a fair question:

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> tomszekeres why are you getting involved now? The

> UK has been exceeding air quality standards ever

> since they were introduced - in 2008 the Ambient

> Air Quality Directive set tighter limits on

> pollution hotspots

> https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/uk-eu-po

> licy-context

This is an issue that I've gradually woken up to since around 2017. So not in 2008, but not in 2021 either. :)

I might dig out some of our story and post below - might help put answer your question more fully.

> You will understand that I believe that many have

> only woken up to air pollution since LTNs were

> introduced. I hope that your seminar will go

> broader than LTNs and look far more at what we can

> do, rather than blaming others or having an excuse

> for taking action.

Yep - absolutely - I'm really interested in setting aside LTNs to explore what could (possibly) bring people together.

[heartblock]

So anyway, back to the discussion started by Tom.

What are your thoughts on the infilling on estates and loss of green spaces, do you think this should be combined with the thoughts around air quality? They also plan to build on children's outside play areas - we know that outside activity is important for children.

Surely removing areas of open land and mature trees has an impact on air quality in the borough. The increase in idling traffic is very noticeable, but is this diverting our attention away from this other tragic Southwark Council plan?