The GMCA’s ‘Greater Manchester’s Plan for Homes, Jobs and the Environment’, commonly known as the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework which was out for public consultation earlier in 2019, promotes a vision for ‘clean air and a flourishing natural environment’. This is one of many aspirations stated in the document, couched in fluffy political language, which directly conflicts with the GMCA’s primary ambition to offer up swathes of our local greenbelt to developers and land speculators. Reducing the green space around our towns will increase air pollution, putting the health and wellbeing of local people at higher risk of lung and heart disease.
“Reducing the green space around our towns will increase air pollution“
The 152 roads in Greater Manchester that breach air pollution levels. The data doesn’t include motorways!
We’ve contacted The British Lung Foundation (BLF) who have offered to supply us some air quality monitors. This will allow us to measure air pollution levels near our busiest roads and particularly those that are close to schools and community centres.
More evidence is emerging around the detrimental effects of air pollution: a study (published last year in the journal ‘Circulation’ www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.034856)
reports an association between lower levels of air pollution (small particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide) and changes to the structure of the heart in people who did not have pre-existing heart disease. This adds to the growing evidence of the damaging effects of ambient pollution even in the setting of relatively low exposure levels. The authors recommend that ‘efforts to reduce air pollutant emission should be prioritised in public health initiatives and legislative measures’.
Taking any areas out of our local Greenbelt
will only make air pollution, and our health, worse!
This is particularly relevant to young children and their long-term health.
https://bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-50096818
Further info:
https://www.citymetric.com/transport/manchester-doing-enough-fight-its-air-pollution-crisis-4695