Road in Greenwich named in London's top 20 pollution hotspots

Between January 1 and April 27, 2016, the road had an average Nitrogen Dioxide level of 67 micrograms per cubic metre – well over the EU limit of 40 per year.

It’s the only area in south east London to make the top 20 list, as published by Campaign group ClientEarth which uses monitoring by King’s College London.

The figures come after it was revealed yesterday that the overall death rate in London from long-term exposure to PM2.5 – a type of pollution – has reached 1,000.

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Fighting for cleaner air in south-east London, the East Greenwich Residents’ Association, has received cross party support from all four of the likely mayoral candidates for their campaign against the Enderby Wharf Cruise Liner Terminal.

And a judge at London’s High Court recently granted a judicial review of Greenwich Council’s decision to approve planning permission for the international terminal.

An artist's impression of the Enderby Wharf Cruise Liner Terminal.

Client Earth saw success in the Supreme Court exactly one year ago, when judges ordered the government to produce new plans that would bring down the UK’s illegal air pollution as soon as possible.

Despite that verdict air pollution levels have stagnated across the capital, says ClientEarth.

Alan Andrews, lawyer for environmental law organisation, ClientEarth, said: “The government is dragging its feet whilst Londoners are choking on dangerously polluted air. It’s now been an entire year since the Supreme Court ordered the government to act but we still find ourselves with toxic levels of air pollution.

“You have to doubt the government’s commitment to protecting the British people from harmful air pollution when this is their response to a public health crisis. The plans they have come up with are woeful and even by their own admission will not bring pollution down to legal levels until 2025.”

News Shopper has contacted the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for comment.