Pollution is the most serious threat to Londoners’ health

• CAMDEN Air Action’s letter repeats Camden Cycling Campaign organiser Steven Edwards’s trope that road closures and the introduction of cycle lanes will reduce pollution because displaced traffic will “evaporate”, (Campaign for more to be done on air quality, August 2).

They quote a 1988 study (cited in ec.europa.eu/environment/pubs/pdf/streets_people.pdf) which contains eight examples of towns and cities where such changes have resulted in “evaporation”.

Copenhagen is often cited as the city where this policy has been successfully achieved. However, in regard to the only example included from London, the authors accepted that it is
not possible to conclude definitively that a percentage of the traffic has “evaporated”.

Copenhagen has a population of 2 million; London has a population of 8.7 million. Camden Air Action fail to mention the citation of a 1998 study, which draws more nuanced conclusions.

Contrary to widespread assumptions, car drivers adapt to changes in road conditions in highly complex ways which computer models cannot accurately predict.

The traffic modelling produced in evidence at the public inquiry into Tavistock Place road scheme by Transport for London and Camden Council predicted that the trial would reduce pollution and cycling accidents and increase the number of cyclists.

None of these claims was substantiated two years after the trial was implemented. There was evidence of increased pollution and congestion in the surrounding area.

Camden and TfL refused even to consider other measures that could reduce traffic in the Judd Street area and protect cyclists (such as number plate recognition or restricting traffic to specific hours), on the grounds that these would be too expensive. No costings were provided to support this claim.

TfL is a quango that is spending upwards of £700million on cycle lanes and paving roads across London. Why is this the only road development model that is being considered? Has TfL already signed a contract for these controversial London-wide changes?

Pollution is the most serious threat to all the health of all Londoners. In children, the effects of the pollution they are exposed to now will affect their lungs for life.

We cannot rely on the hope that road closures and cycle lanes will cause traffic “evaporation”, the evidence is too weak.

ELIZABETH PAUL
Bloomsbury Residents’ Action Group
www.brag.org.uk