Parents in London think the air their children breathe is the biggest danger to their health.
It took just eight days for London to exceed its air pollution limit for this year, and parts of Kingston have regularly come into discussion as pollution hotspots.
Cromwell Road, which hosts Tiffin School and Monkey Puzzle Nursery as well as Kingston’s main bus station, is one of the most polluted areas in south London. It has had some of the highest nitrogen dioxide levels in the capital.
A survey undertaken by ClientEarth between March 7 and March 14 asked 1,015 parents of children aged 18 and under what they think is the biggest health threat in London currently.
Of these people, 43 per cent put air pollution as their main concern. Other concerns included drug use and alcohol, which 17 per cent and 16 per cent of parents respectively listed as a worry.
When asked how worried they are about their children breathing dirty air in London, 41 per cent of the parents said they were "fairly worried".
Both MPs in Kingston have previously raised concerns about the air quality in the borough.
Kingston and Surbiton MP James Berry said at the beginning of the year: “The areas of pollution that are particularly concerning to me are on the A3 near Tolworth at that very congested roundabout.
“Kingston Council cannot control how much traffic goes on the A3. What we can try and do is regulate the amount of traffic around Tolworth roundabout.”
While Richmond Park and North Kingston MP Zac Goldsmith said: “I am very concerned that levels of air pollution are so high around Cromwell Road in Kingston.
“Across London, poor air quality is killing an estimated 9,500 Londoners every year. This is simply unacceptable and we must take action.”
Both Mr Goldsmith and Labour London mayoral candidate Tooting MP Sadiq Khan have said the level of air pollution in the capital is unacceptable during their campaigns.
ClientEarth's chief executive James Thornton said: “It is no surprise parents are so concerned.
"Our capital has the filthiest air in Britain and children are some of the first to suffer.
“The lung capacity of youngsters living in London has been reduced by living or going to school near main roads."
“They have to endure the terrible effects of air pollution across the city year after year, with woeful action from the government.”
- Got a story? Get in touch on 020 8722 6368 or ellie.cambridge@london.newsquest.co.uk
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