Heavy traffic is a major cause of air pollution
Hammersmith & Fulham Council has launched a new resident-led commission to tackle air pollution – and it needs your help to combat the deadly problem.
Air pollution is a silent killer. Kings College London recently discovered poor air quality contributes to the deaths of more than 200 people in the borough every year.
The Air Quality Commission, comprised of seven residents, will report back next year but first needs to gather evidence, aided by experts as well as the general public.
It is chaired by Hammersmith resident Rosemary Pettit.
“Air pollution is a serious risk to people’s health,” she said.
“It’s important to discover what this pollution is, where it is coming from and what we can do to tackle it.”
How you can help
Have you noticed any changes in air quality at different times of the day or in different parts of the borough, or noticed an impact on your health?
Do you think there’s a difference in air quality between H&F and other boroughs?
Have you made changes because of air pollution? Maybe you’ve changed your route to work to avoid certain areas or decided to drive a hybrid car?
The answers to these questions and many more will be of valuable help to the commission.
“We are determined to cut air pollution in Hammersmith & Fulham,” said H&F Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Cowan.
“Rosemary has a track record of leading positive change for residents and I am delighted she has agreed to head up this review.”
Commission chair Rosemary, whose background is in publishing, has been active in community work for many years, including as membership secretary of Brackenbury Residents’ Association and chair of the Hammersmith Society.
Rosemary is joined by senior producer for BBC News Kate Forbes; David Chamberlain, commercial director for computer experts Oracle UK, Andrew Pendleton, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth; Reading University professor Derek Clements-Croome who is an expert in building and design, NHS consultant and cancer specialist Dr Leonardo Monzon, and Natalie Lindsay, project manager and principal of Fulham music school Music’all.
They need to hear about your experiences of air pollution and behaviours that may help to reduce it to inform their report to the council.
