CAMPAIGNERS are calling on authorities to stop “diabolical” air quality levels getting worse with emission charge changes that could mean more cars through their area.

Last week (March 26) Conservative activists in South Woodford and Woodford Green launched their “Keen for Clean” campaign to make sure Transport for London (TfL) and Redbridge Council are fighting to crackdown on pollution.

The campaign comes after London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s plans to expand the capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the North Circular, which they fear will mean lots more traffic flowing through Woodford on either side of the bypass.

The group want to raise local awareness of the dangers of air quality and are calling on TfL to bump Woodford to the top of its list of priorities. They also want the council to set up a working committee dedicated to monitoring pollution hotspots and to consider investing in more tree planting and eco-walls.

Churchfields Cllr Emma Best lives near Charlie Brown’s Roundabout, which is notorious for having four times more pollution than Oxford Street.

She said: “We get a constant stream of emails from residents concerned about pollution.

“I put them to the council about a year ago, but nothing seems to be happening.

“We want this issue taken seriously for the people who live in South Woodford and Woodford Green.

“We’re right on the border of the North Circular, so when the Mayor’s new emission zone comes in, we’ll see even more traffic coming through Woodford.

“So we need to make sure our already diabolical air quality doesn’t get worse.”

TfL has promised to improve safety at Charlie Brown’s Roundabout by putting in new crossings next year, but the Keen for Clean group want pollution at the top of the agenda, including people who live near Waterworks Corner too.

Cllr Best added: “The main concern is for people who already have respiratory health problems like asthma, but it’s going to affect everyone eventually.

“My dad lives near the North Circular and he’s seen his condition get worse, with lots of trips to hospital.

“With a young child in my family as well, I’m worried the environment she’s growing up in isn’t a healthy one.”

Conservative London Assembly member for Havering and Redbridge Keith Prince is backing the campaign, saying people in Woodford “should be concerned” by ULEZ changes in the area.

He said: “Not only will Sadiq Khan’s plans to expand the ULEZ to the North Circular cost taxpayers hundreds of millions, they will also push traffic to areas like Woodford not designed to cope with it.

“He should be spending money on smart targeted solutions that help tackle hotspots, not under-researched blanket policies."

Labour Roding Cllr Lloyd Duddridge said it is “wonderful the Tories are finally catching up with this issue” and any effort to tackle pollution in the area is welcome.

He said: “It’s a shame they didn’t notice the problem when they had control of the council, but we will continue the fight for real results regardless.”

His Liberal Democrat colleague Cllr Deakins said despite everyone being concerned about air pollution she does not think a council committee group “will achieve very much”.

A Redbridge Council spokesman said it supported the Mayor’s new ULEZ plans.

They said: “As part of our overall efforts to improve air quality we are developing a new air quality action plan which sets out how we plan to improve local air quality in Redbridge from 2017 to 2022.

“The plan will be made available for public and stakeholder consultation in early June 2017.”

TfL managing director of planning Alex Williams added: “We are fully committed to cleaning up the air in pollution hotspots like the A406.

“We are working in partnership with Redbridge Council to deliver over £1.1 million of air quality improvements across the borough by 2019.  

“This includes the installation of new monitoring devices as well as planting trees, shrubs, and new cycle routes, to tackle air pollution.  

“We are open to any innovative proposals coming from the community through their local council that will have a significant impact in reducing emissions and improving air quality.’’