Melanie Whitlock and I have tried very hard – since the beginning of the year – to secure a hustings for the people of Hammersmith to hear what the main candidates are offering us and ask them questions. There are so many issues that are important to us including of course housing, Heathrow, air quality, the Flyunder, plans for Hammersmith Broadway, tall buildings generally and much more . . . Regrettably although we had secured a venue, St Paul’s Church, and a chairman, Sarah Montague of the BBC Today programme, we have been unsuccessful in persuading either Zac or Sadiq to find time.

However both have provided statements specifically relating to the Flyunder and Air Quality :

Zac advised as follows :

“I strongly support the idea of taking the A4 underground, allowing us to knit together all of Hammersmith into one beautiful riverside town. The project also has huge potential for reducing air and noise pollution. With up to 10,000 lives cut short a year due to London’s poor air quality, I am committed to taking action to address this. Tackling the gridlock and congestion at sites such as the Hammersmith flyover is essential to ensuring both motorists and the environment benefit and I await the outcome of the consultation process with great interest.”

“However, the scheme is not currently funded in Transport for London’s business plan – which means the next Mayor will need to work with Government, business and the local community to find innovative ways to finance the scheme. I am determined to do that.”

Sadiq has responded as follows :

“The next Mayor must take urgent action to clean up London’s air which is so filthy it’s actually illegal. It’s a disgrace that nearly 10,000 Londoners die prematurely every year because of air pollution, yet the current Tory Mayor and Tory Government are sitting on their hands. We need to be taking decisive steps to sort out dirty air, including cleaning our bus fleet.”

“Congestion is a big cause of poor air quality, is causing misery for many motorists, and is a real drag on local residents and businesses.  The Hammersmith Flyunder is an innovative idea that could both reduce traffic in the area and cut down on air and noise pollution in the local area.  I look forward to hearing the result of the consultation and if the local community wants to go ahead, I would work with Hammersmith and Fulham council, Ministers and businesses to help facilitate getting the necessary funding and moving the scheme forward.”