Extinction Rebellion Wandsworth Holds Rally for Cyclists
Aiming to highlight air pollution and pressure council into action
A previous XR Wandsworth cycling event
August 27, 2025
9-year-old Luke says he wants to grow up in a world without air pollution. Picture: XR Wandsworth
On Saturday 23 August, more than 30 cyclists gathered in Battersea Park for a ride and rally organised by Extinction Rebellion Wandsworth, Wandsworth Cycling Campaign, Greenpeace South West London, and other local environmental groups. The event aimed to raise awareness about air pollution and advocate for policy changes to improve air quality in the borough.
The ride began at 11am, with participants carrying placards bearing slogans such as “Air Pollution Kills,” “Clean Air Now,” and “Riding for a Better Future.” Music accompanied the procession as it made its way through Wandsworth, concluding at noon with a rally at Garratt Lane Old Burial Ground, opposite Southside Shopping Centre.
Speakers at the rally included Battersea councillor Maurice Mcleod, air quality scientist Pete Knapp, local GP Veena Aggarwal, and Celia Duncan from Wandsworth Cycling Campaign. Also addressing the crowd were representatives from Greenpeace, Mums for Lungs, Possible, Balham Climate Action, and the Green Party. Sixteen-year-old Daisy, founder of youth climate group Generation 1.5, opened the rally with a call for greater youth involvement in environmental advocacy.
The speeches focused on the health and social impacts of air pollution, particularly in urban areas. Councillor Mcleod linked environmental degradation to broader issues of inequality, while Green Party candidate Joe Taylor spoke of his motivation as a parent concerned about future generations. Several speakers urged Wandsworth Council to take stronger action ahead of the May 2026 local elections.
Campaigners are calling for measures such as emissions- and weight-based parking fees, and the repurposing of 10% of public road parking space for bicycle parking, green infrastructure, and social use. Similar policies have been implemented in other London boroughs, including Lambeth, Merton, and Westminster, and have been credited with reducing the number of high-emission vehicles.
The ride departs from Battersea Park
The event formed part of XR Wandsworth’s ongoing “Wake Up Wandsworth” campaign, which seeks to encourage the council to adopt a comprehensive climate emergency response plan and expand pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. Organisers also highlighted the potential health benefits of cleaner air, including reduced respiratory illness and lower pressure on NHS services.
Participants ranged in age, with one of the youngest being nine-year-old Luke from Clapham Junction, who said he enjoyed cycling with others and hoped to grow up in a world without air pollution.
The event concluded with calls for residents to contact Wandsworth Council and support proposed changes aimed at reducing car dependency and promoting sustainable transport. Organisers described the rally as a demonstration of community concern and a reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by urban air pollution.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |