Almost half of residents in the Tory councils fighting Sadiq Khan’s Ulez expansion do not believe that poor air quality has an impact on health, according to a shock survey.
The poll of people living in Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and Surrey reveals an unexpectedly high number apparently doubting the scientifically proven link between toxic air, poor health and diseases such as respiratory conditions.
Asked on a scale of one to 10 how much of a negative impact air pollution has on the health of local residents, 47 per cent gave a score of zero to four – and only 34 per cent said six to 10.
However an average of 51 per cent of respondents considered air pollution to be a major issue, and 75 per cent said it should be a priority for council action – though most did not want it to be the main focus.
The poll, of 1,305 residents (261 adults in each area), was commissioned by the Clean Air Wins campaign ahead of the start of a High Court judicial review of the mayor’s plans.
Mr Khan wants to expand the Ulez, from the current boundary inside the North and South Circular roads, to the Greater London boundary on August 29.
The five Tory-led councils are seeking a ruling that he acted illegally in the way he has sought to implement the changes.
A defeat for Mr Khan could force him to delay or re-consult on the extension. This could delay the “go live” date by weeks – or potentially months – but the court does not have the power to block the extension indefinitely.
The survey results suggested support for action to clean up the air. But it did not ask respondents directly whether they supported the Ulez expansion, as proposed by Mr Khan.
There was an almost identical level of support for Government action on air quality as initiatives from “local government”.
An average of 57 per cent of respondents were very or somewhat convinced by the statement: “There are 4,000 premature deaths annually in the city due to toxic air. This is preventable. We need to take action on air pollution now.”
But slightly more – 62 per cent – were very or somewhat convinced that the country had a “duty to act” to safeguard children from toxic air, in the wake of the coroner’s ruling in the case of Ella Kissi-Debrah, the south London nine year old who was the first person to have air pollution recorded as a cause of death on her death certificate.
Nitrogen dioxide levels in central London are 46 per cent lower than they would otherwise be if the Ulez had not been introduced April 2019.
In inner London – the area up to the North and South Circulars – NO2 levels are 21 per cent lower, in part due to the Ulez expansion that went ahead in October 2021.
However, an independent analysis for Transport for London by the consultancy Jacobs predicted that the Greater London Ulez would have only marginal benefits in terms of air quality.
It said the so-called GL-Ulez was “likely to have a moderate positive impact on nitrous oxides road traffic emissions and a minor positive impact on particulate matter emissions”, and “a minor positive impact on health outcomes for Londoners”.
Campaigners said the survey showed there was wide support for measures such as the Ulez expansion.
Agnes Agyepong, campaigner for Clean Air Wins and founder and chief exeuctive of Global Black Maternal Health, said: "These new polling results reflect a clear demand from residents in Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon, and Surrey for their local councils to intensify their efforts in addressing air pollution.”
Dr Anna Moore, a respiratory doctor based in London, said: “This survey clearly shows that the people of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and Surrey want clean air - local councils should not stand in the way of that.”
Phil Page, Hillingdon Friends of the Earth co-ordinator, said: “Instead of opposing the extension, Hillingdon council should negotiate with Transport for London for more bus routes and all-electric buses to be introduced on all bus routes through Hillingdon that are under TfL’s control. They should also invest more in active travel.”
TfL expects the expansion to generate a profit of about £200m a year in the first two years, falling to £50m in later years.
Mr Khan has promised to spend the proceeds on more buses and cycle lanes, including £200m on electric buses. He is also launching a “Superloop” limited-stop bus network in outer London.
Susan Hall, the frontrunner to become the Tory mayoral candidate, has vowed to switch off the Ulez expansion cameras if she ousts Mr Khan next May.
She told Times Radio on Monday: “This expanded Ulez is nothing but a tax grab from this wretched mayor.”
Asked if she wanted to reduce the number of people driving in London to tackle the “utter poison” of traffic pollution, Ms Hall, who would retain the Ulez in its current form, said: “It’s not specifically one of my aims. Air quality is important, and it’s much better than it used to be, very much better.”
