Request ID: FOI-1667-2223 Date published: 03 November 2022
You asked
Could I ask tfl and rbkc what the pollution levels are in the street as a result of the gridlock? Can we have the data please for this week and when future contra flows are in operation.
Could they also list which policies of both tfl and rbkc, and national policies on clean air standards are currently being breached by the pollution levels?
Finally, can tfl explain how a cycle quietway can operate on the street in these conditions and what action is being taken against cyclists using the pavements, due to the congestion, which is against the law?
We answered
TfL Ref: EIR-1667-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 7th October 2022 asking for information about pollution levels on Oakley Street.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Could I ask tfl and rbkc what the pollution levels are in the street as a result of the gridlock? Can we have the data please for this week and when future contra flows are in operation. Could they also list which policies of both tfl and rbkc, and national policies on clean air standards are currently being breached by the pollution levels? Finally, can tfl explain how a cycle quietway can operate on the street in these conditions and what action is being taken against cyclists using the pavements, due to the congestion, which is against the law?” TfL does not collect air quality monitoring data directly. However, note that real-time air quality data across London is publicly available on the London Air Quality Network (LAQN) website here: - https://www.londonair.org.uk/, which includes more than 100 monitoring sites. The site provides detailed hourly data for all monitoring sites, as well as yearly aggregated statistics, which can be used for long-term trends of NO2, PM10 and PM2.5. In terms of “policies of both TfL and RBKC and national policies on clean air standards”, this would be the EU Limit Values (https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/air-quality-concentrations/air-quality-standards/) and the Air Quality Strategy regulations (https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/uk-eu-limits), although we do not hold data to say whether or not these are being breached. If there is monitoring nearby from the air quality network, the data will include a comparison with these Limit Values/Objectives, which include both long term and short term objectives (which were put in place to account for both chronic and acute effects of air pollution on human health) as follows:
For NO2 (nitrogen dioxide)
Long-term objective: 40 ug/m3 (micrograms/m3) as an annual mean
Short-term objective: 200 ug/m3 as an hourly mean – with 18 exceedances (i.e. 18 hours over 200 ug/m3) of that threshold allowed each year. This means that the objective would not be considered exceeded if that threshold of 200ug/m3 was only exceeded for 18 (or less) hours across the whole year
For PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometres):
Long-term objective: 40 ug/m3 as an annual mean
Short-term objective: 50 ug/m3 as a daily mean – with 35 exceedances of that threshold (i.e. 35 days over 50 ug/m3) allowed each year. This means that the objective would not be considered exceeded if that threshold of 50ug/m3 was only exceeded for 35 (or less) days across the whole year
For PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometres):
Long-term objective: 25 ug/m3 as an annual mean
In answer to your last question about the cycle quietway, this is not a request for recorded information under the terms of the Environmental Information Regulations. However, note that TfL is working closely with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) to explore upgrades to sections of Quietway 15 to potentially meet TfL’s new Cycleway standard. RBKCs proposals will aim to deliver improvements to cyclists and pedestrians along this route including along Oakley Street - which is a borough road rather than a TfL managed road. Cycleways are underpinned by a quality criteria which includes criteria such as vehicle speeds, HGV flows and traffic flows. We expect that improvements to Quietway 15 will take some time to develop and deliver and we will support RBKC in these processes.
If this is not the information you are looking for 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
