Disputes between Hackney council and air pollution campaigners in Stoke Newington are ongoing, with a public consultation over road closures coming to an end on 25 October.
Campaigners claim that Hackney Council has thus far been unresponsive to complaints.
The council’s plans to shut Brighton Road, Walford Road and Nevill Road to rat-run traffic and reduce car accidents and pollution have been met with discontentment from local residents, and a third consultation was launched in September on the divisive plans.
Campaigners claim that closures will displace traffic, resulting in a rise in air pollution for neighbouring schools. The council have admitted that three schools will be illegally polluted if the road closures go ahead, but have not altered the plans.
Campaigners say Hackney Council has overstated the distance between pollution receptors and school facades, effectively overestimating the decrease in nitrogen dioxide levels between the pollution levels on the road and on the school premises.
Hackney Council claims that the illegally polluted area of Grasmere School’s playground isn’t actively used by children but campaigners have video footage of children routinely playing in these areas.
Campaigner for CleanAir4Schools, Jenna Fansa, says that campaigners have felt “very let down by our ward councillors,” with the exception of Gilbert Smythe. She said “There’s no getting away from the fact that 3,500 are going to be breathing dirtier air and they haven’t been that helpful”.
Another local resident, Louise Power, set up the The Albion Rd Residents Association after the council failed to act in the face of their complaints. “We felt our emails, letters and concerns were being ignored”, she said.
Nicholas Ransley, a resident who lives on a road that would face closure under council plans, disagrees with air pollution campaigners. He said “the council have commendably followed a rigorous process in responding to complaints” and that “there has been a campaign to vilify the council”.
Stoke Newington local councillor, Mete Cobham, said “It is simply not true that there has been a lack of communication, as our work since the beginning is evidently clear.
“We will continue to work with all those involved to ensure that there is a solution that works for the whole community in Stoke Newington.”
