Sarah takes fight for cleaner air to Parliament

12.00.00am GMT Tue 11th Jan 2005

Sarah is taking the fight for cleaner air in Neasden to Parliament

Local Liberal Democrat MP and London spokesperson Sarah Teather is taking the fight for cleaner air around Neasden Goods Depot to the House of Commons. The Brent East MP has tabled a Commons motion calling for action to tackle the problem of dust pollution from the site.

In October last year the Brent East MP chaired an hour long meeting between the Environment Agency and Brent Council's Environmental Health Chiefs. Monitoring by the Council last year showed that pollution from the site is regularly fourteen times over the Government's recommended levels. At the meeting the Brent East MP demanded that a joint action plan be drawn up between the Environment Agency and Brent Council.

In December last year one of the contractors was successfully prosecuted by the Environment Agency for breaking environment regulations. However this case took a shocking three and a half years to get to court.

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather said:

"Whilst I welcome the prosecution of one of the contractors on the site, much more needs to be done to tackle the dust pollution. Walking along Neasden Lane you can feel the dust on the back of your throat, it's not just unpleasant it's a health risk. Many local residents have told me of their fears about the pollution on their children's lungs.

"The problems of Neasden Goods Depot have blighted the lives of local people for ten years, we must get decisive action to tackle this issue once and for all."

Full text of Sarah Teather MP's Early Day Motion

"This House expresses concern over the levels of pollution from Neasden Goods Depot, expresses sympathy with local residents who have suffered from pollution from the site for several years, notes that Brent Council have recorded levels of dust pollution 14 times over the Government's recommended levels on numerous occasions, further notes that an enforcement action taken out by the Environment Agency in early 2001 on one of the contractors on the site has taken a three and a half years to come to Court and calls on both Brent Council and the Environment Agency to work together to reduce the levels of pollution from the site."