MNHQ here: how concerned are you about air quality?

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

We've been contacted by the Mayor of London's office; they're asking us to find out what Mumsnet users think about air quality - particular in relation to children's health, although it doesn't have to be exclusively so.

So we'd be grateful if you could let us have your views. Here are some prompts, although as ever feel free to ignore if you have other thoughts

*Is air quality something that you think about often, or that impacts on your daily life (or that of your family members)?
*Have you ever considered air quality when making decisions about where to live or work, or where to send your children to school?
*Do you take any measures to try to protect yourself or family members from poor air quality (such as filter masks)?
*Are you particularly concerned about any individual pollutants?
*Who do you think should be responsible for improving the quality of the air (if anyone)?
*If you could opt in to auto-alerts that gave you information about the air quality each day, would you do so? How would you use this information?
*Would you support policy measures to reduce air pollution such as scrapping diesel automobiles or charges on car use?

All feedback (not just from Londoners!) very welcome - thank you.
MNHQ

[MadisonMontgomery]

I live in the countryside and never really considered air pollution, until I read somewhere about people in London getting black snot because of the pollution - I seriously thought it was a wind-up, I didn't even know it was possible! It did make me wonder how people with asthma cope with city living, it must be awful. I don't think I would be comfortable bringing children up in that environment.

[downright]

I never think about it. I live in a city but not a particularly densely packed one.

Not worried.

[longestlurkerever]

I live in the London borough of Haringey. I'm very concerned, and there seems to have been a step change for the worse in the past year or so. It factors into things like school and childcare choices for me, walking routes to work. It could even drive us out of the area. It certainly would affect my vote.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

That's what I was talking about Madison,

Black snot. I have it, definitely not a wind up.

[Mycraneisfixed]

I moved from London to Wales 44 years ago and within a year I no longer had sinus trouble or breathing difficulties. The past 5 years it's all come back. I'm sure it's diesel and petrol fumes. I have had diesel cars for 15 years but I think it's a real cause for concern.

[specialsubject]

London is a lot less mucky than it used to be - but as long as Uk policy is cars not rail (except if you live IN London or need to get TO London 20 mins faster than now) it will only get worse. (Yes, I do know that trains aren't zero pollution...)

The threatened airport expansion was another reason to get out of the south-east. And I've done a LOT of flying and never not been able to get a booking. Tell me why we need more?

We get farm smells here but that's how food gets grown.

[fingles]

Very concerned. I live in SE London on the south circular and dh's asthma is worsening. I take the bus and walk for 45-60 mins each way to work, and I am so angry and frustrated at the sheer volume of traffic - and MOST CARS WITH ONLY ONE SELFISH POLLUTING FUCKER IN THEM.

That feels better. Til I look out the window next time....

I'd like to see massive taxes on vehicles in London that pollute, and digital displays on the roadside showing green/Amber/red pollution levels, and more buses and bus lanes. And flying pigs...

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Cars and planes.

Don't forget the planes.
And all the building dust.

[fingles]

And as I typed that I could hear ds's persistent cough in the front room.

[BlackeyedSusan]

I would have discounted certain schools due to their proximity to main roads.

I choose to walk the children home from town along the least busy route I can, whilst still avoiding the bridge that is used as a public toilet.

I think there should be some measures (combination of carrot and stick) to reduce the use of diesel cars as their particulates are particularly bad.

perhaps a measure of air pollution and the link to using cars should be more available. this is the thing I would be most guilty of, carrying too much stuff in my boot.

I live in the innercity and traffic can be really bad. (up to 180 cars passing in a ten minute period, including some of that time where traffic was at a standstill. dd did a traffic survey for homework)

government (local and national) should be responsible for leading the reduction in traffic/air pollution. what bugs me is cars on the school run leaving their engine idling while they wait for children. unnecessary.

[BeakyMinder]

Very concerned. Both kids have asthma and every year things seem to get worse. Me and other adults in the family have developed hay fever out of the blue. We're in London zone 3.

The Mayor should be responsible for London air quality and he should have every power needed to get it under control. I'd be fine with banning diesel vehicles, traffic reductions, controls on local industrial emissions etc - whatever works.

[Jodiebee1986]

Very worried, mostly because of my sons asthma, I watch weather/news for smog and such. Concerned in his later life he won't be able to step foot near a city at this rate

[venys]

We live by Heathrow so yes it is a concern. I am a hippy by nature but chose to stay in the area because it was good for my son's special needs. (but his school is even closer to the airport). We also need to own a car for our family as it simply isn't possible any more for our family to function without one. But our recent purchase was petrol (no electric options). I was very surprised that the majority of cars here are diesel as their emission quality has been known about for years. I worry for my OH who scooters into the city each day. And I see the black crap coming down in the rain onto our outside stuff. It's disgusting. No way will I back the third runway. We.need to change our focus on economic growth because it ain't working. Would love.to move to.the countryside (even pre kids) but not sure how feasible it is for us. Yes we need alerts on air quality.

[PomBearWithAnOFRS]

I live in Hartlepool, and unless I hear the sirens go off at the nuclear power station and/or a large BANG, I don't worry about the air quality here very often.
We do have a "recycling firm" here in town (and a quick google will tell you who they are) that have a habit of having unfortunate fires break out in their mountains of crap (odd how it's always the tyres and suchlike that are costly to dispose of properly - they have such bad luck with arsonists) and that can cause some nasties from time to time, but fortunately the prevailing winds tend to be out to sea...

[ABCAlwaysBeCunting]

I live and work in London and I'm afraid air pollution is not top of my priority list. There will always be pollution in a city and it's one of the things you have to accept if that's where you choose to live.

It makes me angry that the majority of discussion around air pollution in London is so focused on banning/fining of privately-owned cars while ignoring buses, taxis and delivery vehicles. It smacks of trying to scapegoat individuals rather than attempt to deal with road usage in general in London.

[ABCAlwaysBeCunting]

And yes, I know about the ULEZ, but again, it's essentially imposing a charge which most companies will wind into their costs as opposed to trying to make long term changes which are genuine viable alternatives.

[outputgap]

I live in North London and worry about it a lot now that I have children. It definitely will be a big driver in our next house move. Sadly dd is really happy in a school which is in a terribly polluted place. She has asd, so I don't feel I can move her.

I occasionally check the Kings College air quality website, so not that interested in text updates.

I think the negative externalities from diesel have been completely mispriced in the tax system. The resulting overuse of diesel really needs to be addressed. Any policy change to discourage diesel cars would be extremely welcome. I'm also a big fan of charging to address pollution - potentially an economically efficient way to do so.

And I do not understand why huge lorries are allowed to go down Upper Street, or anywhere in central London in the daytime. Upper Street has little signs up saying 'low emission zone' while artic lorries thunder past people pushing prams. There needs to be a charging regime for lorries, vans etc which discourages daytime journeys through central London, but lets electric vans travel freely etc.

Really glad to see the new Mayor publishing information on schools and pollution.

[LowSugar]

London zone 2 here and working in z1. DC school by a big road but chosen over the nearer and academically better option which is next to a dual carriageway because I wanted to avoid the pollution exposure.
I worry about air quality several times a day.
As PP said: I bear it in mind when deciding routes or exercise venues and I absolutely wouldn't live somewhere on a main road.

[Jemmima]

Very rural in North Wales so its not a big concern of mine. Air quality is lovely and thats why we moved here from London many years ago.

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

Don't live in London and never think about it. I live in a lovely town in the Midlands which is full of trees and parks. The only time I notice any problem with air quality is after a visit to London when I have black bogies the next day!

[barkingfly]

I was in London last month and was surprised how bad the air was. I have lived in Los Angeles all my life so I know all about smog.

[BathshebaDarkstone]

I don't worry about it daily.

It would be my major reason for moving to the country if we could afford it.

[BathshebaDarkstone]

ABC some of us were born in London and can't afford to move.

[firsttimekat]

We were very worried about air quality in London. DS has early onset asthma and multiple hospital admissions when viruses make it difficult to control. We decided to move out of London to find somewhere with better air quality for him to grow up in. We are now living at the seaside and you can just feel how much better it is. Your skin just feels cleaner and I really notice it when I'm back in London for work.

I don't know whose responsibility it should be.