Letter to NEU Joint General Secretaries

 

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary NEU

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary NEU

 

Dear General Secretaries

 

Judicial Review Hearing on 14^th February 2023 regarding a School proposed in Redbirdge without air filters by a busy road -

 

We are supporters of the stop the Tesco Toxic Towers, a community group campaigning against a proposed high-rise development (which includes a school) at a Tesco store site in Goodmayes, Redbridge.

 

The development is beside a High Road so polluting that the flats facing the High Road have air filters to the seventh floor to protect families from air pollution.

However, the school adjacent to the flats, also facing the High Road, does not have air filters to protect children and the staff working there.

 

It seems obvious to us that the school should have air filters or even better be moved inside the development. Our community group has funded a judicial review on the issue and we have a permission hearing on the 14^th February. To our surprise, Redbridge Council and Weston Homes are seeking to block a key document Building Bulletin 101 about ventilation for new schools from the court bundle. The guidance in Building Bulletin 101 says air filters must be considered for schools in polluted areas. Building Bulletin 101 was mentioned in the officer report on the night Councillors made their decision, but only in the context of ventilation to prevent overheating. Our campaign has the support of three GLA representatives who are copied in and the local Trades Council.  Perhaps the most media coverage we had was a visit to 10 Downing Street per the article at the link here https://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/23110978.letter-opposing-goodmayes-development-goes-downing-street/

 

Campaigners have got coverage on twitter, but not enough to influence Tesco, who are part funding the proposed school, to step in and provide filters or ask for the school to be moved into the development.

 

Our request is that you put up a message of support on twitter ahead of the hearing on the 14^th February as air filters at the school or it being moved inside the development will be of benefit to your members.

 

More information at stopthetescotoxictowers.blogspot.com

 

Regards

 

Bob Archer – Secretary, Redbridge Trades Council

 

Andy Walker – TUSC

 

RoseMary Warrington – Green Party