An interactive map that offers residents the chance to share their experiences, thoughts and ideas of air pollution in Barking and Dagenham has been launched.
The online map allows people to give their personal views on how air pollution changes around the borough and how they feel air pollution is affecting the environment, helping to identify hotspot areas and create a clearer picture of the overall local air quality.
The map is part of a new project called Community Air Quality: Breathing in Barking and Dagenham and has been produced in collaboration by Barking and Dagenham Council, researchers at Imperial College London, and a panel of local resident ambassadors.
The interactive map launch follows research identifying Barking and Dagenham as one of the most deprived areas in the capital with a population living with some of the worst air quality.
Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, Councillor Syed Ghani, said: “There’s no ifs or buts, the science tells us air pollution has a detrimental impact on people’s lives, and research has shown that air pollution in Barking and Dagenham has a significant and disproportionate impact on the local population, especially children.
“This map is calling on people to share their lived experiences of air pollution in the borough and will form part of a wider project of work on informing environmental policies, so please take five minutes to share your findings.”
As well as being available online, the map will be appearing at a number of in-person events where people can contribute to the map on paper or verbally in person:
- (Virtual) Thursday 15 June 15 12 - 1PM - Clean Air Day Lunch hour
- (In person) Friday 23 June, 12pm – 2pm at Northbury Community Hub
- (In person) Tuesday 11 July at Becontree Community Hub -10.30am – 2pm
- (In person) Wednesday 12 July at Heath Community Hub -11.30am - 3.30pm
- (In person) Community Air Quality x Valence House (Date TBD)
The project, which is set to run until January 2024, is funded by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra).
To view the map and add your experiences, visit bd.communityairquality.com/.