Reply to Keith Stanbury claiming Tesco Towers are not Toxic

Letter offered for publication to Ilford Recorder

Dear Sir or Madam

Keith Stanbury says campaigners are being "defamatory" to say the proposed Goodmayes Tesco Development of 1300 homes is toxic.

The Gladman judgement sets out why NO2 pollution from traffic is toxic to health per this extract at paragraph 102 of the judgment

 "Both “moderate adverse” and “substantial adverse” impacts are considered likely to have a significant effect on human health, according to the 2015 publication LandUse Planning & Development Control: Planning for Air Quality [produced by Environmental Protection UK and the Institute of Air Quality Management]."

The Gladman judgment refused a development on air quality grounds, there can be no doubt if the Tesco development goes ahead there will be substantial additional traffic pollution at nearby schools. Redbridge Council is aware of how bad how air quality is locally and is taking a series of measures to reduce the damage to health, especially child health. 

Tesco also appear aware of the damage their development will cause because Keith writes that "air quality has been monitored at seven school locations by the developers for almost a year". The mystery is why have these monitoring surveys have not been published, perhaps Keith could help with this.

It will very unfair if these seven surveys appear just before the planning application is heard this summer. If Keith does not have copies, perhaps Tescos will disclose this key information. The concern is these seven surveys will cross the thresholds set out in the Gladman judgment, if not, why are they not published?

Not only will a cumulative traffic pollution load of 1300 homes in a small area, already contaminated by so high NO2 levels, be toxic, the residents will also suffer from the pollution caused by heavy construction lorries coming to the site for years. Tesco should think again about the damage this development will do to the health and well being of our community and withdraw their plans.

Regards

Bob Archer - Redbridge Trades Council

Paul Scott 

Andy Walker - stopthetescotoxictowers.blogspot.com

c/o 120 Blythswood Road IG3 8SG