Clean air campaigners warn Hackney traffic scheme will harm schoolchildren in polluted areas

Clean air campaigners have warned a traffic scheme will harm the health of pupils at what is already one of London’s most polluted primary schools.

They say Hackney council’s proposals will “completely undermine” efforts to improve air quality in the borough.

Councillors want to stop small streets in Stoke Newington being used as rat runs - but parents claim the plan will cause a huge increase in traffic outside several schools and nurseries.

One affected school, William Patten primary in Stoke Newington Church Street, was identified last year by Mayor Sadiq Khan as one of the 50 most polluted schools in London.

A report stated it was one of 27 in Hackney where levels of dirty air breached EU limits. As a result it was selected by the Mayor to take part in an air quality audit.

Hackney wants to encourage motorists to use the A10 and Stoke Newington Church Street to traverse the borough, rather than smaller side streets which it says are plagued by congestion.

But parent Sally Newsom said the plan would increase harmful emissions outside William Patten’s playground.

She added: “The Mayor has flagged improving air quality for schoolchildren as a major priority - Hackney’s proposals go completely against that.”

The school is already campaigning to have a bus stop moved to cut emissions and has raised cash for a screen of plants along its roadside boundary.

Volunteers have been monitoring nitrogen dioxide, which they claim consistently breaches levels considered safe by the World Health Organisation.

Jenna Fansa, founder of website StokeyParents, accused Hackney of running a “flawed consultation”, saying: “The consultation document is full of spin. It makes grand claims about wanting to improve life for nurseries, schools and cyclists yet the proposals will likely create more pollution outside two primaries and two Defoe Road nurseries.”

The public is being consulted on two proposals to stop Walford Road and Barbauld Road being used as a rat run. The consultation ends on January 26.

Councillors are said to be keen to deliver some road closures by April.

Feryal Demirci, Hackney’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, transport and parks, said the council’s analysis suggested there could be an increase of up to 12 per cent in traffic flows on Church Street, but this was “a worst-case scenario and there are a number of alternative routes using main roads, therefore ... we anticipate any increase would be minimal. If either proposal were to be implemented we’d continue to monitor traffic and air quality.”

She said closing roads was a “tried and tested way” of encouraging more walking and cycling and added: “We expect air pollution levels around the school to improve over the next year.”

A spokeswoman for Mr Khan said City Hall was reviewing the consultation “and will be liaising with the council and local schools”.