Air quality a top priority as Camden unveils vision for 2025
Finding new ways to improve air quality in Camden is a key shared aim of Camden’s residents, businesses, organisations and the council as they unveiled the borough’s new vision for Camden in 2025 on Monday, 9 July 2018.
Students from Netley Primary School joined residents and some of Camden’s major institutions at a meeting of the newly formed Camden Clean Air Partnership on Monday. Together they discussed what practical steps can be taken to clean up our air – and the consequences of not doing this effectively.
The event, co-chaired by University College London, was a step towards the creation of a new Camden Clean Air Action Plan, due for approval in early 2019, and a practical example of the way people and organisations across the borough are coming together to tackle some of Camden’s long-standing issues.
This shared approach to tackling Camden’s challenges is a key focus of Camden 2025, the new vision for Camden developed in partnership with local residents, organisations, businesses and partners.
You can read Camden 2025 and Our Camden Plan, the council’s response to how they as an organisation will support the Camden 2025 ambitions, on the Camden 2025 website.
Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council said:
“Camden 2025 is our community's vision for the borough, developed from speaking with thousands of local people about what we want for the future of our borough. These are challenging times for the public sector entering our eighth year of budget cuts but we are determined to stay ambitious for our community. Camden 2025 is about bringing together the huge energy and creativity in Camden to take on the big challenges we face from youth safety to social isolation.
“Clean air was one of residents’ top priorities. People described their fear about the air their families breathe and the health issues they were experiencing. We will only achieve our ambitious targets on improving air quality if we all work together, from walking and cycling more to more sustainable construction practices. We are excited about what will come from a new shared approach led by our communities."
Dr Celia Caulcott, UCL's Vice-Provost for Enterprise and London said:
“UCL is delighted to be working with Camden to support the borough as it co-designs a new Clean Air Action Plan to support all its residents, visitors and workers.
“Air quality is a challenge that no person or organisation can face alone. Everyone in Camden is affected by our air quality, and as a leading university embedded in the heart of Camden, UCL shares the challenge and believes that we have real responsibilities to help find solutions to improve air quality for us all.”
Bavaani Nanthabalan, Executive Headteacher at Netley Primary School said:
“The school is delighted to be a member of the Camden Clean Air Partnership.
“Access to clean air is vital for children’s health and development. Most Netley pupils live in our local community, where there is a high level of air pollution, so we are keen to collaborate to improve air quality.”