Mums stencil air quality warnings on the streets of Manchester

Manchester Mums for Lungs have taken to the streets in response to new data that shows how much of the city suffers from illegal levels of NO2.

The mums have been stenciling  ‘Illegal Air Pollution Recorded Here’ in chalk, next to air quality monitors where illegal levels of pollution have been measured. 

The new data released by Greater Manchester last week, show that illegal levels of NO2 have been recorded at 60 locations (marked in red on the map), , with a further 78 locations classified as ‘At risk of exceeding legal limit’ (orange).

Despite the fact that legal levels should have been complied with 14 years ago, Greater Manchester recently announced that it was pushing back the ambitions of its Clean Air Plan by a year. The combined authority have also ruled out implementing a clean air zone in the city.

The size of the city’s task is evidenced in the fact that government data from last year shows that Manchester has the worst levels of pollution of all local authorities measured.

According to research published by Friends of the Earth, 1,244 out of 1,258 schools across Greater Manchester breach the World Health Organization limit for NO2. A staggering 99% of all the schools in the area.

In April Air Quality News attended a Manchester Mayoral transport hustings at which Mayor Andy Burnham made a commitment to deliver 100 school streets across Greater Manchester during this term, and it is that commitment that he is now being reminded of.

Liz Godfrey (pictured) is a parent of two, who runs the Manchester Mums for Lungs group. Liz  said: ‘So many monitors across Greater Manchester are still recording illegal levels of air pollution, this is making children sick! We urge everyone, including the national government, to work together. We need quick and effective action to meet recommended air pollution levels to protect little kids from wheezing and asthma. We must start with those roads that pollute children on their way to and whilst at school, as they spend so much time there.

‘We look forward to working with councillors and the Mayor to introduce new School Streets across Greater Manchester.’

Mums for Lungs point out that there are around 700 School Streets in London, but only around 200 in the rest of the country. Research the group have carried out in London suggests that, by enforcing such streets through automatic number plate recognition cameras, they can be self-funding within their first year.

In a recent letter to the Government in advance of the upcoming budget, Mums for Lungs highlighted the health and economic benefits of tackling air pollution and called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves to make capital and staff funds available for local authorities to deliver School Streets with ANPR enforcement.

Dr Alice Wilson from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: ‘Children are most vulnerable to air pollution due to their short stature and faster breathing rates – but if we can protect them while they are young, it will lead to a healthier adult population. We know air pollution disproportionately affects already disadvantaged groups, and that tackling it is key to reducing health inequalities. All children spend a significant proportion of their time in school, and governments and local authorities therefore have a duty to protect them during this time.’

Dr Sinead Millwood, an NHS GP at the Hawthorn Medical Centre in Levenshulme, said: ‘Air pollution damages everyone’s health but children are especially vulnerable as their lungs, brains and immune systems are still developing. Breathing polluted air has been shown to affect brain development, impacting on children’s ability to learn, and can cause and exacerbate asthma and lung infections.’

Elsa Devienne with Arlo and Ray, beside the A6 in Levenshulme, close to Alma Park Primary School Photo: Rebecca Lupton, Mums for Lungs