PUPILS’ health at around 100 schools across News Shopper’s patches could be at risk from highly polluted roads, it has been claimed.

The flagged up schools are within 150m of roads which carry more than 10,000 vehicles each day - a level of traffic which scientists say could trigger up to 30 per cent of new asthma cases in children.

Topping the pollution poll is Greenwich which has 30 schools within 150 metres of these busy roads, with 28 schools in Lewisham, and 19 in both Bromley and Bexley boroughs.

Kerry Lynch, 34, has two children, Ellie, nine and George, six, who go to affected school, Grays Farm Primary School in Grays Farm Road, Orpington.

Ms Lynch, of Whippendell Way, Orpington, said: "To be honest, I never thought about it.

"I normally drop kids off on a side route but I am surprised it is so polluted.

"It is a concern because my daughter Ellie has asthma.
"She gets a bit breathless when she’s running about on the school fields but now I don’t know if that’s from the activity or the pollution.

"I would support more money going in to tackle air pollution because you’re never going to knock something like that which helps your kids."

There are 1,148 schools across the capital located close to these highly polluted roads, according to an online map drawn up by London Assembly Green Party Member Jenny Jones.

Ms Jones has accused the Mayor of London of "delaying" tackling air pollution and urged him to inject more cash into his Clean Air Fund for schools in pollution hotspots.

She said: "The Mayor has been dithering and delaying in introducing effective measures to tackle air pollution.

"That could mean, according to his own pollution projections, that pupils who attend a school by a busy polluted road would be exposed to harmful levels of vehicle pollution during their school years."

Other suggested improvements include green roofs and plants to cut airborne particulates, low energy ventilation systems for fresh air within schools, and banning engine idling outside schools.

A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: "The Mayor recognises that road pollution is a serious health issue for Londoners of all ages and is doing all he can to tackle it across the whole of the city, as well as places where schools are located.

"Since he took office emissions of oxides of nitrogen are down by an estimated 20%.

"That is because of an ambitious package of measures including building Europe's largest fleet of low emission hybrid buses, retiring the oldest taxis and introducing tighter emission standards for lorries and vans.

"Clearly there is still more to do, which is why the Mayor has announced ambitious plans for his second term including a new Ultra Low Emission Zone from 2020 – the first of its kind in any big city in the world.

"The Mayor is also working closely with London boroughs and businesses, committing £20m to a new Air Quality Fund to improve pollution hotspots across the capital.”

To find out more and view the map, visit howpollutedismyroad.org.uk/schools.php