By Gwyneth Deakins

It was about three years ago that my colleague Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem member of the Greater London Assembly, came to Redbridge and measured the amount of air pollution at Charlie Brown’s Roundabout in my ward.

I thought it would be bad, but even I was surprised when it turned out that the pollution was worse than what Caroline had measured in Oxford Street.

Many people I speak to in this area are more and more concerned about air pollution, for themselves and their children.

Now Transport for London has issued a consultation that proposes to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) for all types of vehicles up to the North Circular by 2021.

This will bring the parts of Redbridge that are south of the North Circular within the proposed new zone, but those who live north of it will not be covered.

It would be good if there were tougher emission standards for vehicles in the borough but rhese proposals do not go far enough. So many homes and schools are close to highly polluting roads in Redbridge – the M11, A406 and A12 to name but three.

The North Circular should be included in the ULEZ. and my party will be pressing TfL to do just that.

The TFL consultation closes on 28 February.