Low emission neighbourhoods - challenging the way we live

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Standing on Cambridge Park Road in Wanstead at rush hour time brings a sense of deja vue. The road fills up with traffic belching out pollution.

Some 30 years ago, you could endure the same experience. Then the government decided to build the M11 Link Road, which goes under George Green, then emerges in a cut up to the Green Man.

There was a great deal of opposition to the road, with the protesters arguing that it would bring more cars and pollution to the area. Hey presto, today they have been proved right. Come rush hour, the Link Road below carries traffic and above Cambridge Park is moving toward the maximum capacity of three decades ago.

The story of the M11 Link Road in some ways highlights a contradiction at the centre of modern life. Most people want to live in an environmentally sustainable way but they also want to keep their cars.

In Wanstead, there is a burgeoning environmental movement making some significant strides in addressing issues like pollution, climate change and biodiversity. But at the same time, many seem to have an almost umbilical attachment to their cars.

The car is a very helpful thing to have, especially if someone has young children to ferry around. But it is also a polluter, helping to create much of the pollution that hits those same children particularly hard.

Wanstead is a green area, with its parks, trees and open areas, we are very lucky to live here. Yet taking another view, we could be said to be living on a traffic island, locked in by large, ever busier roads, between the Green Man, Redbridge and Charlie Browns roundabouts.

Modern transport systems face many obstacles in seeking to improve ways of getting around whilst also ensuring that the planet on which everyone depends for life is not destroyed in the process.

There are moves afoot to address some of the problems of pollution and traffic congestion. Redbridge Council is encouraging electric cars, with charging points being put in across the borough.

The Low Emissions Neighbourhood (LEN) scheme is being introduced - based on the London Mayor’s target of getting 80% of journeys to be by foot, cycle of public transport by 2041.

The LEN for Wanstead goes out to consultation with the public from January. It is aimed at making life better for those three types of travel.  The objectives include improving air quality, creating safe areas around schools, reducing rat runs, encouraging cycling and walking, providing a wider range of transport options, improving station access, encouraging safe speeds, creating safe junctions and generally improving the urban environment.

In addition to this scheme, there is the Ultra Low Emission Zone being brought to the area by the London Mayor in 2021. This will also help to make the air cleaner.

There is ofcourse still much to do. The plans of London City Airport to expand its operations is not something conducive to a cleaner greener environment. Redbridge, together with a number of other councils, has expressed its opposition to the plans.

People also need to take personal responsibility for their actions. Drive and fly less, think about the environment and people around us.

In Wanstead, we are lucky to have a community that really is concerned about the environment and keen to engage with change. That change is on the way, so make sure you are part of it by getting involved in things like the LED consultation.

There is also the great work of local groups like Cleaner Green Wanstead, Wanstead Climate Action, Friends of Wanstead Park and the Wren Group – all are keen to welcome new supporters.  

Together we can make Wanstead a cleaner, greener place

Published in Wanstead & Woodford Guardian - 2/1/2019