Private school run driving 27% increase in air pollution in south London, campaigners say
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Cars shuttling children to private schools in South London are contributing to a massive spike in air pollution, campaigners have warned. According to their research, the level of nitrogen dioxide gas associated with car exhaust fumes shot to 47 per cent during the morning rush hour when both state and private schools were open.
This figure was significantly higher than the 16 per cent increase reported during the period when only state schools were in operation. Although congestion on London’s roads is also impacted by a wealth of factors, such as the weather, Dulwich and Herne Hill are home to several independent schools and 4x4s are often spotted on nearby roads.
Travel on public transport is also delayed in these areas when there are more cars on the road dropping kids off at private schools, impacting youngsters who rely on the bus to get to school themselves. Nicola Pastore from Solve the School Run said that the data clearly shows the entire area is impacted by car emissions during the school run.
“The data is clear – we are all affected by the school run, whether we are bus passengers, dog-walkers or families on our way to school,” she said. The organisation behind the findings consists of parents of both state and private school children who are frustrated with the “chaos, congestion, road danger and air pollution” their children face when trying to get to and from school.
Ms Pastore said the group had held meetings with Dulwich College, which has 1,670 pupils. The college said it is “committed to supporting its pupils and staff in sustainable travel to and from school each day”, with 17 per cent of its pupils travelling by car compared with 32 per cent on by foot, scooter or bike.
