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.

This continues to be hot news with regular features appearing in London papers and local news bulletins. This month Rosemary Pettit’s Resident-led Commission is taking evidence.

Rosemary notes that the background and purpose of the Commission are as follows:

Hammersmith and Fulham has the eighth highest percentage of early deaths attributable to nitrogen dioxide and to particulate matter air pollution in London, according to a report by King’s College London.  The report, commissioned by the Greater London Authority and Transport for London, estimates that this contributes to the early deaths of 203 residents per year.

In response to this, Hammersmith & Fulham Council has established a resident-led Air Quality Commission to look into the problem.  The Commission will engage with external experts and local residents in examining the causes and dangers of local air pollution and propose potential solutions to help reduce it. Hammersmith resident, Rosemary Pettit, is chairing the Commission, which will run for some 6 months and report to Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

Annual NO2, 2010

As previously noted, our former Hammersmith Society Chairman Rosemary Pettit is chairing the Council’s Commission on Air Quality.

Unfortunately she is finding it a bit slow getting off the ground which is a pity as it is becoming an increasingly hot topic with the VW emissions scandal and new evidence on diesel pollution in the form of nitrous oxide particles and the potential announcement on Heathrow. There have been a number of newspaper and TV articles recently and other Boroughs seem to be actively involved with King’s College London and UCL who are both carrying out investigations and have monitoring stations.

The Council have announced (11 August) the setting up of a resident-led Air Quality Commission. This will be chaired by our own Rosemary Pettit (former Chairman of the Hammersmith Society). For more details, visit the Council website here

Heathrow vs Gatwick

Further to my News Update of 8 July, this rumbles on with many articles in the Press and arguments amongst potential candidates for the London Mayor next year.

The London Forum of Civic and Amenity Societies have commented extensively. Visit www.londonforum.org.uk

HACAN (Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise) have also published extensively. They are organising a Central London Protest Rally on 10 October at 11am. Visit hacan.org.uk and www.no3rdrunway.co.uk. The latter has the official map showing potential flight paths. Our member Christina Smyth who also headed up the Council Commission on Heathrow, has been asked to join HACAN’s Management Committee, so we should be getting news updates from her.