News / Bristol
‘Clean air now for Bristol’
A united and urgent response is needed to address the poor air quality that is claiming lives and hitting deprived communities hardest in Bristol.
This was the cry from a cross-party group of councillors and campaigners, calling for immediate action to address the ‘public health crisis’ facing the city that stands as one of the most polluted outside London.
The Green party’s Fi Hance said there is a real sense of momentum growing as she welcomed progress made on establishing a Clean Air Zone for Bristol and acknowledged the huge sway of support from the council and members of the public.
is needed now More than ever
A petition calling for Bristol’s air pollution to be reduced as a matter of urgency gained 4,370 signatures, prompting a debate on the matter in City Hall.
Presenting it, John Eccles said: “We had a wide-ranging number of signatories from many political backgrounds and demographics.
“I live in Lawrence Hill, one of the worst affected. We see this every morning when the area’s children struggle through pollution to get to school.”
The petition, ‘Let Bristol breathe clean air’, states: ““Bristol’s air pollution is above legal and safe limits and urgently needs to be reduced.
“Air pollution causes permanent lung damage in babies and young children, exacerbates
lung and heart disease in older people and particularly affects people living in the city centre
and near busy roads.
“It leads to an estimated 300 premature deaths in Bristol each year. This compares to about nine people a year killed in road traffic accidents in the city.”
The petition calls for the implementation of a Clean Air Zone, measures to make buses less polluting, action to discourage the worst offending motor traffic in the city centre and near schools, and prioritise promotion of walking, cycling and public transport.
Green Party co-leader Caroline, joined members and school pupils in Bristol earlier this year to highlight the dangers of air pollution
Cyclist Nikki Jones made a passionate plea for the council to do all it can to combat air pollution, saying: “It’s urgent, it’s killing people, please look at public transport and many other options at your disposal.”
Mayor Marvin Rees confirmed the council, jointly with South Gloucestershire, has been granted almost £500,000 to undertake a feasibility study into establishing a Clean Air Zone.
Since councillors unanimously supported the ‘Clean Air for Bristol’ motion in November, a working party on air pollution, and also one on congestion, have been put in place. Some argued that action is not happening fast enough though.
“We are taking air quality seriously and we are making significant progress,” said Rees. “We want it to be urgent, but we are working with people and I have this nagging challenge in my mind with asking poor people to pay for for the problems rich people created. I want to make sure that environmental and social justice go hand in hand.”
Speaking after the report, Bristol Green party leader Eleanor Combley said: “We know that deprived communities are much more affected by air pollution than affluent areas – it is an equality issue as well as a danger to the environment and public health.
“We applaud the formation of the air quality working group in response to all party support for action. We’ll be looking forward to its findings eagerly, and are keen to support decisive action that will reverse this blight on people’s health and lives in the city.
“Nothing should be ruled out at this stage. In particular, it is likely that in order to work properly Clean Air Zones will need to introduce charging for all older diesel vehicles including cars. Bristol must deal with this issue with the urgency it demands as a genuine public health crisis”
Main photo: Campaigners calling for a Clean Air Zone in Bristol gather on College Green.
Read more: ‘Why air pollution is an attack on the poor’
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