• Small town centre on junction of A20 and A205 (South Circular) feeder
• Frequent congestion
St Modwen plan to build large supermarket on junction, opposite existing supermarket
Will attract around 4000 new cars to junction per day
Local concerns about pollution
Contacted Network for Clean Air, applied for help with community pollution study and they said ‘yes’!
Plotted site where we wanted to hang tubes on a large map
(Junction, schools, churches, parks, surgeries, residential streets, bus stops)
Sarah McMichael
Sarah McMichael
Andrew came to London to meet with 9 of us. He gave us 25 tubes. He taught us how to hang the tubes, where to hang them, how to avoid errors in readings
Sarah McMichael
We plotted where we wanted to hang the tubes. We thought about where people are exposed and where the traffic is. Also wanted to know how quickly pollution disipated away from busy roads
• Divided up into three teams
• Took on an area each
Sarah McMichael
We divided into three teams of three people and decided a day and time to meet and hang the tubes
• Early one morning set off with ladders, tapes, cameras
• Attached tubes to lamp posts, road signs, railings
Sarah McMichael
one person held the ladder while another one climbed and a third person took a picture
Sarah McMichael
We took the lids off the tubes before hanging them and made sure to store them somewhere safe becuase we will need them in a month
• Put the tubes in the post and wait for the results
• Just a few weeks!
Sarah McMichael
We posted the tubes to a laboratory in oxfordshire and waited for the results. they only took 2 weeks to arrive!
• Map the results on the map
• Make a clean copy for public release!
Sarah McMichael
Andrew joined us back in London and we marked the results on a map and discussed what they meant.
Sarah McMichael
We then made an easier to understand,'cleaner' map for publicity purposes using a mapping tool
Took a Press Release Photo
Sarah McMichael
We publiced a photo call in the site due to be developed for everyone concerned about local pollution levels.
Sarah McMichael
On relfection we didnt release the balloons but handed them out to the children there.
• Prepared a press release
• Publicised at local events
• Contacted local councillors and MPS
• Explained what the problem is and what you wanted done (development that attracts less cars and public space away from traffic)
Sarah McMichael
Sarah McMichael
Andrew was very helpful in advising us how to contact the press, write a press release, who to contact and how to be heard.
When planning application made by St Modwen, 225 submissions made by the public and local groups:
• 77% against the plans and many mentioned the high pollutions
What next?
• Talking with other local groups who want to measure pollution in their area
• Aim to get a complete picture of pollution across Lewisham and raise awareness
Sarah McMichael
St Modwen made a planning application soon after the pollution study. Lots of people had heard about the pollution study and were very worried about it.
Sarah McMichael
Many people made submissions against the plans to Lewisham council, mentioning the pollution levels as a concern.
Sarah McMichael
904 people also signed a petition against the proposed plans
Sarah McMichael
We are talking with a group in Catford who are interested in doing their own pollution stucy.
Sarah McMichael
Other studies have been done in Plumstead/Greenwich. It would be great if we could get a london-wide picture of pollution levels
