The campaign group, Lambeth for a Cool Planet, is organising a “Walk for Clean Air” down Brixton Hill on Sunday 13 September.

The A23 through Streatham and Brixton has some of the worst levels of air pollution in the country – annual EU limits for Nitrogen Dioxide had already been reached by mid-January 2015. Air pollution affects lung development in children and has many negative health effects, especially for older people, those with asthma, and those living or working near roads. About 9,500 premature deaths in London each year are attributed to air pollution.

Brixton Hill’s councillors were part of a group of councillors who wrote to the Mayor of London demanding that heavily polluting buses through the area are replaced as an important way to help deal with the issue. We were pleased that several routes will now be upgraded to cleaner buses. The 109 will be most improved by the changes, getting the new Euro VI which reduces polluting nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 95%. The 333 will have a new vehicle that will reduce NOx by around 50 per cent. But there is much more to be done, locally and as part of a Londonwide response.

The campaigners are meeting at 2pm this Sunday at the top of Rush Common (just below Holmewood Road) and walking to Windrush Square, Brixton. The event is listed on Facebook.