Forum Topic

Air Pollution in Ealing

https://ealingtransition.org.uk/category/events/

Philippa Bond ● 3108d24 Comments

So did anybody go?

Philippa Bond ● 3100d

It's the way that you say that Ealing COUNCIL will be run by either the Conservatives or Labour. Therein LIES the problem. Just trot out an attractive enough package of LIES and one or the other will be elected. Then do what you want.Our political system needs reform.P.s. I am glad that you like my CaPiTaLiSaTiOn!P.p.s. Our local politicians would be a lot more credible if they didn't spend all their time hanging out in bars. I don't have a great deal of time for people who get together in pubs and bars with the resulting decisions that come out of the brotherhood bonding over a pint. Contrary to popular belief the die-hard problem drinkers of Ealing do not necessarily reflect the thoughts of the majority.

Joanna Corbett ● 3105d

Hello Joanna, I like the way you RANDOMLY capitalise words. It makes your argument SO much more convincing. NOT.Political parties are themselves coalitions of views, with people uniting around a core set of beliefs even though there may be particular matters on which they disagree. With respect to Ealing Council, it'll either by run by Labour or the Tories. As you'll see from the front page story, local Conservatives are arguing for the Council to join the legal battle against the 3rd runway - clear blue water between the main local parties on this issue.

Vlod Barchuk ● 3105d

Democracy = complacency? If you want to influence issues you have to be an active voter and active in your community and at least try to voice your opinion. Otherwise you will always be disappointed in some party or another. But it is often easier to moan a bit and point out the faults of the 'other' party than to actually take some action and we are all guilty of this especially in affluent areas where life is comfortable. I know many loyal Conservative voters who are campaigning against Heathrow for the 3rd runway - why then criticise people for actually doing something.All the arguments about jobs etc also seem a bit flimsy considering west London is one of the most affluent areas in the UK with transport infrastructure for commuting. This is all about the corporation that runs Heathrow using their might and influence to get what they want - I've been to a couple of their presentations on the expansion and I felt they would have promised anything eg freight capacity will double but not to worry because all lorries will be electric by then. If it goes ahead will the various 'legally binding' promises slip away over the years? What about options such as Birmingham which has good rail and road links and is in a central position for other parts of the UK.Finally there is no real mitigation for noise pollution - children playing inside concrete noise limiting igloos? triple glazed cells in the summer? Air pollution will also have a long term effect on things like soil quality - parks? allotments? But as long as we all stay inside it should be fine and there are many cities with largely 'indoor' cultures.

M Powes ● 3105d

Some good points Mark. I like the idea of "none of the above". It would be great that if people had such a bad choice to make then the none of the above if large enough would result in a rerun with completely new candidates from all parties. That would be a thought. as for brexit my view was that there was a lot of misinformation on all sides and also a feeling that people's concerns were being ignored. as a result a big 2 fingers to the establishment. That is the key. so we cannot be surprised. That is the attraction of Donald Chump and his claim to be an outsider.

Peter Chadburn ● 3105d

There has not been a government or opposition or indeed a local council in generations that has stood for policies and carried them out as sold to the electorate.The sands are always shifting.Democracy can also be tough. 48% v 52% close but that's still a lot of people.There are councillors and MPs who have slender majorities with just an 8th of their electorate even voting.The Welsh automony was voted through with a slender majority with less than 25% of the Welsh electorate turning out to vote.With the Brexit issue, over 75% of the UK eligible electorate turned out to vote.That's democracy and it does meant that things may not go as desired or for the better.But, when decisions are made affecting everyone, based on the opinions or votes of a tiny proportion who bothered to participate or vote, is that a true mandate?If we want better candidates across the spectrum and better standards then there needs to be major change in our electoral system.Mandatory to vote.Void if a constituency or ward turnout falls below 50% of electorate.A "None of the Above' box on voting papers so voters can clearly register dissatisfaction with candidate choices or referendum options rather than spoil a ballot paper (which is not presently regarded as a dissatisfaction option.)Candidates /Parties must have clear policies and no " Ah! But" get out clauses( just look at how the Mayor has used season tickets and got out of his promises on TfL fares)Tighter rules and more transparency on whom is lobbying for who and how.Currently, we get what we deserve through apathy and laziness.At the end of the day the buck stops with us the electorate allowing the gravy train to roll along.

Mark Kehoe ● 3105d

Ideally, Yes. I am tired of politicians who NEVER take responsibility for what their party does. It does not matter which party. It is never their fault, they don'r agree, it's more complicated than that. Once upon a time it was considered wrong to lie. These days we have whole business sectors oriented around lying: marketing, brand management.You elect a politician based on policies, then the party does something else, or the politician does something else.LibDem(ocrat)s - tuition fees. democracy - become the party of the 48% even though the 52% voted out, forget about democracy. Conservatives - big society a.k.a. food banks. Labour - representing the worker, however, REPRESENT every minority interest however twisted EXCEPT the worker.

Joanna Corbett ● 3105d

Joanna, keep on beating that drum.Got something against a certain political party perchance?Have a look at this > Click here a Labour leaning publication, pretty much says that the party supports it, so should they all resign and join in one of the very many parties you list as according to your logic they are not true Labour.The article is from July 2015.

Lee Page ● 3105d

The Green Party is against the third runway in Heathrow. I think it is also against ATOS, MAXIMUS, Work Capaility Assessments, and cuts to the NHS. If you REALLY believe that these are bad things, leave the Conservative Party and join the Green Party.It would be nice to hear one local Conservative say: "My party just approved the third runway for Heathrow". Is it so hard for words of truth to come out of the mouths of local Conservatives? Either you are a Conservative and you support the decisions of your party, or you are not a Conservative, so give up that safe nomination and back up your words by joing Labour, the Greens the Libdems, UKIP, SNP, Sinn Fein, ANYTHING but the Conservatives, for you are not a Conservative if you do not support the party's policy.

Joanna Corbett ● 3106d

Which party is that then?As many Labour MPs support the runway as do Tories and as many do not.Why are Scots MPs allowed to influence the decision? Or vote on it?I don't think English MPs would get much say if Prestwick or Aberdeen were selected .Personally I think the so called "Boris Island" ( which is not a new idea ) was just the kind of outside the box thinking we need. A complete package linking the whole country, with approaches out over the sea, new road and rail links away from the main populus and no disruptions to the existing infrastructure.Plus an area of new homes and jobs to sustain it . Something this city cannot do without current course extreme overcrowding and the detrimentation of quality of life for all but the wealthy.

Mark Kehoe ● 3106d

Yawn. When is a local Conservative actually going to admit that Theresa May has given the go-ahead for a third runway?It is not rocket science, and if you are really against it what are the local Conservatives going to do about it?You can't honestly expect the voters to believe: vote for me because I am against it even if my party is. No one is THAT gullible. It is a bit like ATOS and Work Capability Assessments - no one supports them (allegedly).If you really disagree with your party on the third runway then resign and join a party that is against it. Have SOME pride.

Joanna Corbett ● 3106d

They should have recommended both Heathrow and Gatwick knowing that Heathrow will get bogged down in environmental issues that will not be solved as easily as some make out. The "Davis" report was chaired by a man with connections to various groups involved in Heathrow and so could be said to be biased. So interesting to see who has the integrity to be consistent on this issue. Well done to ZAC but i see Justine greening offer a lukewarm response. Heathrow if they get a third runway will want a fourth. The real failure as a so called hub airport is that there has been no real integration of rail transport. when i fly into Amsterdam i can walk downstairs and get an inter-city train pretty well anywhere in Holland and also parts of Germany. Heathrow just has links into London. as a condition of Terminal 5 these aspects should have been built into it.

Peter Chadburn ● 3106d

Politically this is much more complicated than you state.The last Labour Government was committed to Heathrow expansion. The Tory/Lib Dem coalition kicked it into the long grass. David Cameron's government had the results of the Davis Review (recommending Heathrow 3rd runway) but delayed making a decision. Even now, we have a consultation which is effectively putting off anything happening for a year. Locally, the Labour Council has been silent on this matter and has not joined in any action to oppose the 3rd runway (Julian Bell's twitter feed since the announcement has been a masterclass in non-committal). Virendra Sharma (Southall MP) supports it, as does Steve Pound (though with caveats about pollution measures). Rupa Huq is against. I'm a local Tory (before you ask) and we're nearly all against it.

Vlod Barchuk ● 3106d

Thank you, at least you acknowledge that the people who have okayed this, the Conservatives, are respeonsible for this  runway decision and it is not some "butterly flaps its wings" (Blair) ten years ago who is repsonsible.Overall, I woudl say the Conservatives are now electorally dead at the local and national level in West London after this decision.P.s. I hear that the local constabulary have been alerted to monitor cyber traffic for people looking up d.i.y. rocket launcers on the Internet (etc.) (Very bad joke alert).

Joanna Corbett ● 3106d

All very well blaming the Conservatives but every Conservative run local authority affected and benefitted by Heathrow, has actively opposed the development of Heathrow, particularly on the wide environmental impact.Thats both councils and MPsBut two Labour run Authorities have chosen not to oppose the development.That's Ealing and Hounslow.  At odds with their MPs, albeit one or two who have been rather mute on the issue. One Tory MP has even put his neck on the block and stuck by his principles.You don't have to be a Tory to respect one who honours his elected pledge.If a few more as "deeply concerned' as he, then they would go to their electorate too.But is is very depressing to see Labour support an expansion that will bring only low paid low skill jobs,some jobs at Heathrow pay just 7p over the minimum wage and proportionally 40% less than in the 1970. And with no perks.   Pollution and safety risks to Western Europe's most populated conurbation and the best one can expect is a bit of free sound insulation.By 2040, Heathrow will be alone in being the busiest airport on the planet with approaches over millions of inhabitants.And to shift all the pollution woes onto vehicular traffic and no doubt penalise the inhabitants for having a vehicle just to allow the airports pollution to be justified, is pure folly.I would have expected more from Labour on the scandal of poor working practices and conditions, the lack of real career and skilled jobs ( most have devolved to Cardiff) aircraft approach and building pollution and a raft of other issues. But as usual it's easier to keep their hardcore of voters and easy pickings rather than really tackle the issues.  A real shame as this ought to be a non party issue of concensus.

Mark Kehoe ● 3106d

Links work in that post ^

Lee Page ● 3106d

London pollution map 2013Ealing specificJust seeing if this works

Lee Page ● 3106d

Anyone could also argue that under T Blair far more was contributed to the pollution of the air around London with the promotion and subsidised buying of diesel cars. Look at any accurate data and the main contributor of air pollution is road traffic.You can click here to see this quite clearlyMore specific data for EalingThe fact is we could all help with air pollution, those parents taking their children to school everyday on those short (usually under a mile) start stop journeys, cutting down on heavy goods traffic during peak times etc, creating cleaner public transport.There are over 8.5 million people crammed into a relatively small land mass, this puts demands on the ecosystem and the services provided. So essentially what should we do? Not have air travel, choose Gatwick instead and thus moving the air pollution to another area, which would be ok as it's not on our doorstep.

Lee Page ● 3106d

does this air pollution include fumes from car emissions that ridiculous councils have implemented??

Peter Yale ● 3106d

At the moment as far as West London is concerned the Conservatives are the bad guys having okayed the third runway. Party politics are here. A party, the Conservatives, has decided to pollute Ealing massively.

Joanna Corbett ● 3107d

Don't be boring, if you feel concerned about air pollution support community level initiatives that try to raise awareness and engagement with the issues. Both Lab and Cons have been pro and anti at various times - if you put faith in party politics then you will be disappointed whichever one you support!

M Powes ● 3107d

Oops. I do apologise Ms. Bond, I had been misinformed as to your affiliation.

Joanna Corbett ● 3107d

I don't belong to any political party. I hate the way that politics especially party political politics with politicians toeing a party line so often stops any useful discussion and solution finding.  It becomes far too like a children's playground.It looks like Theresa May has made a decision now because avoiding making one again would be such a joke.  It doesn't mean that it will happen...  It just gives a positive headline for the news.

Philippa Bond ● 3107d

Let's face it Philippa, your own party, the Conservatives have torpedeod you here with the decision to go ahead with the Healthrow thrid runway. Air pollution will only worsen.

Joanna Corbett ● 3107d