New Figures Show Falling Pollution in Wandsworth Borough
Nitrogen dioxide levels down but challenges remain
New air quality monitor installed in Battersea
September 6, 2024
The latest air quality data for Wandsworth has seen levels of the dangerous pollutant Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) dropping across the borough.
NO2 gases are produced primarily by combustion engines (such as in vehicles) and commercial and residential fossil fuel heating systems.
The fall continues a trend seen over recent years which has been helped by the switch of the bus fleet to low emission vehicles and the ULEZ.
The numbers confirm reports by the Putney Society whose monitoring showed that levels of NO2 pollution around central Putney have fallen significantly over the last two years after five years where they remained stubbornly high.
The biggest improvements have generally been at the sites where pollution was worst; so NO2 levels at most locations are, finally, below the UK legal limit. However, at all seven sites monitored they are still between two and four times higher than the limit recommended by the World Health Organisation.
Cabinet member for Environment Judi Gasser said, “I’m very pleased to see that the air quality in Wandsworth continues to improve, however we cannot be complacent, and we must take steps to comply with our ambitious local air quality objectives. Much of this work is in no small part to the work we’ve done to listen to our residents, and to put your ideas into practice. This was recognised this July by the Air Quality team receiving the Local Government Chronicle Award for Medium Team of the Year – of which we are extremely proud.
“The council is just part of the solution - we will continue take bold actions to ensure our community’s children can grow up breathing clean air.”
At the end of 2022, the council announced an update of its Air Quality Action Plan and committed to introducing a Citizens’ Assembly to gather local views on pollution in the borough.
The Citizens’ Assembly consisted of 50 local people who shared their thoughts about how to clean up Wandsworth’s air, improve people’s health, and address climate change.
Among its 53 recommendations throughout 2023, residents suggested improving air quality monitoring. As a result of this Assembly, the first upgraded air quality monitor has now been installed at Thessaly Road/Battersea Park Road and the second has been installed in Putney High Street.
Other council action includes:
- Promoting active travel with new Cycle Quietways, and schemes including Try Before You Bike and cargo bike hire.
- Changing its fleet to low emission vehicles.
- Work with schools to carry out air quality audits, set up school streets and green screens and encourage non-polluting travel choices such as cycling and walking to and from school.
- Analysing local risks using mapping and analytics tools, as well as the enhanced air quality monitoring network, to help identify communities most at risk from factors such as air pollution, extreme heat, or urban flooding.
Councillor Gasser continued, “Our enhanced monitoring network will help us assess the scale of the problem, and the Citizen’s Assembly was vital to give local people the opportunity to shape our approach to air pollution.
“We must work together as a borough to do all we can to improve air quality – it's vital if we are to prevent people’s health being damaged – especially the more vulnerable members of our community.”
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