In 2024, we were asked to suggest our proposals for the 2024-2027 Islington Council Clean Air Strategy.
Below you can see our list of priorities and actions which were developed by Islington Clean Air Parents after the Clean Air People’s Assembly.
Priorities
- Set ambitious targets for air quality around areas where children are going to school and playing
- Set targets to reduce main sources of air pollution and plan strategy, actions and apply for funding to specifically tackle and reduce them
- Address air pollution hot-spots – bus stops, main roads etc
- Commit to reach WHO air quality targets
- Ensure air quality is integrated across all council departmental policy making
Actions
- Zero Emission School Zones – policy to prevent businesses, traffic.
- Live clean air monitoring across the borough – look at new options coming onto the market and what neighbouring councils are committing to.
- Education/support manual for restaurants and kitchens to reduce commercial cooking air pollution. Free air pollution monitoring. Where can people go to complain? Make it easy ie. app.
- Heat mapping air pollution and publishing data to inform the residents of Islington where the hotspots are.
- Building site constructions – a portion of Section 106 money should be put into improving air quality in the immediate vicinity.
- Fossil fuel generators – require all generators to have mains connections or battery packs (film, construction, markets, fun fairs, events, ice-cream vans etc.) for anything other than short-term emergencies. Look at solutions such as lamppost connections.
- Increased communication with residents about the dangers of air pollution through campaigns, regular events and citizens assembly and encourage residents to change habits to improve air quality.
- Air pollution awareness zones – where air pollution is particularly high there is a short-term campaign highlighting the issues. i.e. posters on lamp posts, social media, billboards, leaflets in shops.
- Reduce parking across the borough. Replace parking outside all schools, parks and shops with parklets, SUDs, bicycle parking including electric bikes and scooters.
- Protect all public realm green space and leisure areas from development as a priority. Keep in line with IBC’s commitment to address climate change and increasing green and leisure space. Avoid contradictions across departments in policies. Council building developments should not be to the detriment of green space, air quality and resident’s health. (Look for alternatives such as building new housing on road stubs).
- Implement School Streets for nurseries, primary and secondary schools.
- Action plan for Islington to become a zero emission borough
We are currently awaiting news on the strategy. To find out more, join Islington Clean Air Parents as we campaign for clean air in the Borough. Sign up to our newsletter here.
Islington Clean Air Parents 