Request ID: FOI-1280-2122 Date published: 21 October 2021
You asked
Lambeth's latest air quality strategy says (bottom of p24] "Vauxhall LB5 has breached the annual mean objective of 40 μg m-3. This is the highest PM10 concentration ever recorded at the site. It is believed that the spikes recorded at the station since 2019 are due to contamination from a tube vent which belongs to Transport for London. The vent is situated immediately next to the air quality station’s sensors; it was previously sealed, and has been left open since 2019. Lambeth has tried liaising multiple times with Transport for London asking that the vent was closed or that pollution coming from the vent was mitigated. The pollution from the vent is contaminating the readings, and we therefore believe those not to be representative of PM10 levels in the Vauxhall area. We continue to liaise with TfL to agree on a solution." They add on p26 that the breach "is the highest breach ever recorded at one of our sites."
https://beta.lambeth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2021-08/London%20Borough%20of%20Lambeth%20-%20Air%20Quality%20Annual%20Status%20Report%202020.pdf
Please can you provide me with copies of any correspondence between TfL and LBL's transport, climate change or air quality teams in relation to the aforementioned correspondence regarding remedying the vent which is apparently causing the high readings?
We answered
TfL Ref: EIR-1280-2122 Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 15th September 2021 asking for information about a London Underground vent at Vauxhall. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. Specifically you asked: “Lambeth's latest air quality strategy says (bottom of p24] "Vauxhall LB5 has breached the annual mean objective of 40 μg m-3. This is the highest PM10 concentration ever recorded at the site. It is believed that the spikes recorded at the station since 2019 are due to contamination from a tube vent which belongs to Transport for London. The vent is situated immediately next to the air quality station’s sensors; it was previously sealed, and has been left open since 2019. Lambeth has tried liaising multiple times with Transport for London asking that the vent was closed or that pollution coming from the vent was mitigated. The pollution from the vent is contaminating the readings, and we therefore believe those not to be representative of PM10 levels in the Vauxhall area. We continue to liaise with TfL to agree on a solution." They add on p26 that the breach "is the highest breach ever recorded at one of our sites." https://beta.lambeth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2021-08/London%20Borough%20of%20Lambeth%20-%20Air%20Quality%20Annual%20Status%20Report%202020.pdf Please can you provide me with copies of any correspondence between TfL and LBL's transport, climate change or air quality teams in relation to the aforementioned correspondence regarding remedying the vent which is apparently causing the high readings?” I can confirm that we hold the information you require. Copies of the requested correspondence are attached. Note that the names and direct contact details of external personnel, and the direct contact details of TfL staff, have been redacted under Regulation 12(3) of the EIR, the exception that protects against the unfair release of personal data. It is accepted between Lambeth and TfL Officers that the vent shaft may be giving readings to the Air Quality Monitoring Station (AQMS) which have affected the accuracy. This does not mean that the shaft is releasing any harmful pollutants, but it is affecting the efficiency of the AQMS. You may be aware that TfL is proposing to introduce new Healthy Street improvements to Vauxhall Cross. This includes introducing a new Bus Station, two way roads, new cycleways and improved pedestrian crossings. As part of this work Lambeth and TfL agreed to relocate the AQMS away from the LU Vent Shaft. It is also proposed to raise the vent shaft so that any air coming from the Underground is pushed away, up and above the new bus station roof. Due to the pandemic, the delivery of the Vauxhall Cross project has been delayed and therefore we have advised Lambeth Officers that they should consider moving the AQMS prior to the delivery of the Vauxhall Cross project. They have agreed to look at suitable locations and should be able to provide an update on timescales for delivery. We continue to liaise with Lambeth on the issue.
TfL is committed to maintaining the cleanest air possible for our staff and customers when using the Tube. This includes undertaking further research into the potential health impacts of Tube dust, continuing to improve our monitoring programme, and rolling out enhanced tunnel cleaning regimes across the network. We're also funding studies of Tube dust, to better understand the health risks associated with dust on the Tube, which is different to dust found above ground. More information can be found on the following page of our website:
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/environment-reports#on-this-page-1 If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed. Yours sincerely, David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
