The Perils of Living Near Hanger Lane
The area has been identified as one of eight locally with poor air quality
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One Hanger Lane resident says the air quality is so bad he has to wash his windows every month or they start to turn black.
Another says she’s had a cough for two years – more or less since she moved to the area.
Hanger Lane is one of eight locations in Ealing identified as being particularly poor when it comes to air quality.
The Local Democracy Service travelled to the area to find out what it’s like living in one of the most polluted areas of London, and how residents deal with it on a day-to-day basis.
Robert Bialek (above) works right near the notorious gyratory system and lives off Hanger Lane.
He said he has to clean his windows every four weeks or they start to turn black, and during summer he only opens his windows on the side facing away from the street to avoid the fumes.
He said residents get used to the pollution, but whenever he returns from visiting his partner in Switzerland, it hits with full force.
He said: “When I come back I can almost taste it. It’s like a metallic feel in your mouth.”
Maryam Asghari works in a beauty salon near the entrance to Hanger Lane Tube Station.
She said: “Because of the huge roundabout we see so many accidents and fights here.”
“Regularly I get a cough, it’s been two years. I thought it was the products we have been using. It’s an annoying cough.”
Stuart Ward (above) meanwhile is new to the area. He said he didn’t have any symptoms yet from breathing in the air, but he was still very conscious of the number of cars when he takes a break from the office.
Unless electric cars become common, he said, nothing is likely to improve.
Independent air quality monitor Tim Webb said at first glance, the area didn’t seem all that bad.
He said: “There is an official air quality monitor there run by the London Air Quality Network, but that one is set a little way back from the road and it doesn’t show unusually high readings.”
The Breath London project however, told another story.
Mr Webb said: “There’s particularly bad problems in and around Hanger Lane gyratory, and it’s the North Circular road to the north.
“They have two specially equipped Google street cars, with very expensive air quality monitoring equipment inside of them.
“They have been driving around for about a year now, and make about 15 passes or so.”
Mr Webb said levels of nitrogen dioxide detected by these cars was failing the directives set by both the government and the EU.
He said: “It’s bad news for people living in places like Twyford Abbey Road, Rossall Crescent and St Anne’s Gardens… They would probably be at risk in terms of their health.”
“Those at the eastern side of the gyratory system.”
Those most at risk include the very young whose lungs are still developing, those with asthma and other respiratory problems, and very old people, whose defences are breaking down, Mr Webb said.
According to the Air Quality Action Plan 2017-2022, there are eight focus areas in the borough.
- Acton A40 North Acton Station/Gypsy Corner/Savoy Circus
- Hanger Lane/Twyford Abbey Road
- Perivale A40 Western Avenue Teignmouth Gardens to Alperton Lane
- Uxbridge Road/ Ealing Broadway and Haven Green
- Acton High Street/Gunnersbury Lane junction to rail in Acton High Street
- King Street/ The Green/ Western Road/ South Road
- Victoria Road/ Portal Way/ Wales Farm Road
- Greenford Road (junction with Rockware Avenue) to Greenford Road (junction with Whitton Avenue West)
The report notes the main sources of nitrous dioxide emissions are road transport and domestic and commercial gas sources (boilers).
Diesel vehicles were the worst offenders for transport emissions, and the main sources of particulate matter are road transport, rail and heavy machinery.
The London bus fleet is already the cleanest in the UK with all vehicles meeting or exceeding the Euro IV emission standard for particulate matter and nitrous dioxide.
Initiatives like the Mayor’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) are also intended to reduce pollution.
Developers are also required to deploy air quality monitoring equipment and minimise the impact of pollutants coming from work sites.
Ealing Council has also rolled out measures such as higher parking price schemes to dissuade the use of heavily polluting vehicles.
The council is also working to improve cycling around the borough.
Around Hanger Lane, Mr Webb said it was essential not to walk in the area during any high traffic periods.
Those stuck in traffic queues are actually breathing the same polluted air as there is outside, so drivers should set their air conditioning to internal circulation.
Children are particularly vulnerable, not just because their lungs are developing, but because they are lower to the ground and therefore closer to exhausts.
Therefore parents should walk closer to the road, with children on the outside.
Ged Cann - Local Democracy Service Reporter
5th November 2019
