Politicians on the panel at ⁦ @air_parents⁩ hustings. Richard Watts getting heckled for not talking about air pollution

. @CarolineRussell describing her history of campaigning on air pollution

Nick Wakeling from the Lib Dem’s explains the links between air pollution and Brexit. “Air pollution goes beyond borders”

Strong questions from the audience on reducing car ownership.

Nick Wakeling wants to electrify cars (so we can keep having congestion , road danger and PM emissions). Audience not impressed.

Richard Watts in favour of reducing car ownership and talking about the diesel surcharge which has lead to “a steep drop in diesel cars in Islington”

Will we see more strong measures in the new transport strategy?

. @CarolineRussell explains Green policies to tax fuels while investing in public and active transport alternatives to reduce private car use.

-a cycle and walking network across the country
-low traffic neighborhoods
-electric tech for public transport and not private cars

Chair @Privatecarfree is asking about the 800 new car parking spaces on Islington’s streets.

Richard Watts committed to reducing parking in future “policy has been in the wrong place”

Labour Cllr asking how policies would help the poorest who are most impacted by air pollution.

(Seems self-evident to me that not poisoning the air would be a benefit)

A question from a parent describing the direct effects of air pollution on her children and family

Caroline Russell describes air pollution as a shocking injustice. Main roads need to be less hostile so people can live their lives and trust the air they breathe. Encourages campaigning parents to push political parties in advance of mayoral election next year

Richard Watts suddenly committing to low traffic neighborhoods

A parent is describing the transformational nature of having a school street outside his child’s school

Independent campaigner Anita takes Richard Watts to task on the resident roamed parking scheme which encourages short journeys in the borough. richard makes the tortured argument that no one knows about roamer, it doesn’t make a big difference but may not change the policy

Caroline Russell explains why the roamer policy is going the wrong direction.
Amazingly, Islington council doesn’t even know how many people actually use roamer parking!

Local campaigner @Jono_Kenyon making the point that low traffic neighborhoods aren’t about funnelling traffic onto main roads but reducing car travel overall

Another parent: “it breaks my heart every day when they have to breathe in the Highbury roundabout”

Nick Wakeling plugging the Lub Dems tree planting targets

Caroline Russell explains that “people need to learn to drive less and less and less until they stop”.

“The number of people driving to shops in Islington is very small and they spend less. If you make your street a nice place to be, shops will thrive”

Caroline and Richard in agreement that main roads need more expensive major interventions to reduce hostility and make them safer.

Miranda wrapping up the evening with a call to keep campaigning