Draft Petition to delay hearing of the Tesco Toxic Towers until coronavirus crisis is over

Draft petition

Don't hear the Tesco Toxic Towers application until after coronavirus crisis is over

We the undersigned residents who live or work in Redbridge note the following:

NO2 emissions from traffic damage child health and welcome the decision of Redbridge Council to commit to funding no idling signs at 50 schools to mitigate the damage to child health. We also welcome that Redbridge Council are taking the threat of NO2 and other pollutants seriously by taking precautionary measures regarding the Tesco Goodmnayes Development of circa 1300 homes per the email to Andy Walker (the petitioner) dated 10^th March Redbridge Council. An extract follows.

“We asked the developer to conduct a six month diffusion survey to establish what the NO2 baseline levels were in the proposed area of development to establish what future occupants would be exposed to. The Defra background maps indicated that the NO2 levels in the development area were below the AQ objectives. Similarly the diffusion tube survey results indicated the same. We did not require the developer to monitor for NO2 concentrations outside Chadwell Heath primary school as it is not in close enough proximity to the development area, however monitoring was undertaken around the following schools which are within 350 meters of the development site:

• Barley Lane Primary School
• Barely Lane Montessori Day Nursery
• Goodmayes Primary School
• Mayfield School

I apologies for any confusion in my original response as I included specific reference to Chadwell Heath Primary school and it should have read Schools in close proximity.  

In addition to the NO2 monitoring the developer has conducted a dust risk assessment in accordance with the requirements of the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM) Guidance on the Assessment of Dust from Demolition and Construction which states:

A detailed assessment will normally be required when one of the following conditions applies to the development;

• A human receptor within:

- 350m of the site boundary

- 50m of the route(s) used by construction vehicles on the public highway, up to 500m from the site entrance(s)

This is not applicable to Chadwell Heath Primary school at it is clearly outside of this proximity and is unlikely to be affected by dust from the development.” END OF EMAIL EXTRACT

& ask Redbridge Council to

1 - Publish the results of the N02 surveys around Barley Lane Primary School, Barely Lane Montessori Day Nursery, Goodmayes Primary School, Mayfield School

2- Conduct an NO2 survey around Eastcourt Primary School when the coronavirus crisis is over. This is because the reduced traffic now will give low N02 surveys. This will almost certainly mean deferring the present hearing at planning committee from summer 2020 to 2021.

3 – Limit the damage to child health by consulting with local schools about construction vehicle route to cause the least pollution to schools along with assurances that as many construction vehicles as possible will travel when schools are shut should the application be passed by Redbridge Council.

4 – Allow virtual council meetings using remote technology to allow residents to participate in Council meetings to campaign against the development from home.
5 - Reject the Tesco toxic towers application on public health grounds. If another virus strikes it is more difficult to self quarantine and maintain social distance in high rise and high density developments. 

6 – Put this petition in the bundle of documents to be read by Councillors at the planning hearing hearing the Tesco application.