Read the Commission's final report (pdf 2MB)
Background and purpose
Hammersmith & Fulham has the eighth highest percentage of early deaths attributable to nitrogen dioxide and to particulate matter air pollution in London, according to a report by King's College London. The report, commissioned by the Greater London Authority and Transport for London, estimates that this contributes to the early deaths of 203 residents per year.
In response to this, Hammersmith & Fulham Council established a resident-led Air Quality Commission to look into the problem. The commission engaged with external experts and local residents in examining the causes and dangers of local air pollution and has proposed potential solutions to help reduce it. Hammersmith resident, Rosemary Pettit, chaired the commission, which will run for some nine months and reported to Hammersmith & Fulham Council in September and November 2016.
H&F was designated as an Air Quality Management Area in 2000, as it exceeds health based objectives for nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. It is, therefore, required to produce and implement an Air Quality Action Plan setting out the measures the council intends to put in place to reduce human exposure to these air pollutants. The current plan was the subject of consultation in 2016, has been informed by the findings of the AQC and will be published in 2017.
The Commissioners
Rosemary Pettit (Chair)
Rosemary's professional background is in publishing. She has lived in Hammersmith since 1999 and has been engaged in voluntary and community work in the borough for many years. She was the Membership Secretary of Brackenbury Residents Association and from 2012-15 chaired the Hammersmith Society.
Kate Forbes
Kate is Senior Producer for BBC News and has won several awards for her television work all over the world. A key area of focus for her between 2006-8 was science and environment, when she undertook several projects on climate change, for Newsnight, the Today programme, Ten O'Clock news and BBC Online. She lives in Shepherds Bush.
David Chamberlain
David has lived in Fulham for the last 16 years and been a Commercial Director for Oracle UK for the past 20 years. After graduating in Natural Sciences he joined BP, where he worked on computer modelling, economic analysis and negotiation of contracts. He has also worked in Hamburg and for the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations.
Andrew Pendleton
Andrew is Head of Campaigns at Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland. He is also a member of Hammersmith & Fulham Friends of the Earth group and is representing them on the commission. He has lived in the borough for 20 years.
Professor Derek Clements-Croome
Derek is an architectural engineer and a professor at Reading University. He specialises in the design and management of intelligent buildings and lives in Hammersmith. He is a built environment expert for the Design Council and a Fellow of the Building Research Establishment.
Natalie Lindsay
Natalie's professional background is in project management. She is the Principal of the local Fulham music school, Music'all, which operates out of Lady Margaret School, Parsons Green. She has lived on Wandsworth Bridge Road in Fulham for over 20 years.
Stage 1: A review of relevant information
The commission has conducted a literature review, examining current research into air quality in London and other cities around the world and existing action plans for improving air quality. The key documents that have been examined as part of this review are listed below.
- Lethal and illegal: London's air pollution crisis (Institute of Public Policy Research, July 2016)
- Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution (Royal College of Physicians) February 2016
- The Mayor's Transport Strategy (GLA, 2010)
- Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Report on Air Quality, April 2016 (pdf)
- Up in the Air: How to solve London's air quality crisis, Part 1 (pdf)
- Up in the Air: How to solve London's air quality crisis, Part 2 (pdf)
- Environmental Audit Committee report on the Airports Commission Report (pdf)
- Understanding the Health Impacts of Air Pollution in London (Kings College London, July 2015) (pdf)
- Health Impacts of Cars in London (Greater London Authority, September 2015) (pdf)
- DEFRA Air Quality plans to achieve the EU limit for Nitrogen Dioxide
- H&F response to the consultation (pdf)
- LBHF Action Plan (pdf)
- RBKC Action Plan
- LBHF 2015 Update and Screening Assessment of Air Quality Action Plan
Stage 2: An open call for evidence
Read the press release dated 14 January 2016 - Residents back Hammersmith & Fulham's Air Quality Commission and share their experiences of air pollution
- AQC written evidence vol 1 (pdf 1.7MB)
- AQC written evidence vol 2 (pdf 1.4MB)
- AQC written evidence vol 3 (pdf 435KB)
Stage 3: Public hearing
The Commission consulted H&F residents on its findings and draft recommendations at a meeting of the Community Safety, Environment and Residents' Services Policy and Accountability Committee on 21 September 2016.
Stage 4: Commission report
The final report was received by Cabinet on 7 November 2016 and its recommendations are now being followed up. Read the final report (pdf 2MB).
Read previous air quality related news articles.