Ella Kissi-Debrah inquest – time for local politicians to act!

17 December  2020

Following the inquest into the death of Ella Kissi-Debrah, Clean Air Cheltenham has written to all local politicians demanding much stronger action on local air pollution.

The coroner said that illegal levels of air pollution, predominantly from traffic, contributed to the death of the nine year old girl. He ruled that the “recognised failure” of government and other bodies to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels or to provide information to the public about their risks, was a possible contributor to the schoolgirl’s death.

Our letter asks very specific questions of Alex Chalk MP, Gloucestershire County Councillors, and Cheltenham Borough Councillors. It is reproduced below.

We will publish any responses we receive.

Dear Alex Chalk, Gloucestershire County Councillors, and Cheltenham Borough Councillors

On Wednesday, the inquest into the death of Ella Kissi-Debrah confirmed that dirty air kills.

The coroner’s conclusion that air pollution was a cause of her death means that no-one can pretend that illegal levels of pollution are a victimless crime.

Politicians can no longer duck the decisions needed. We can no longer continue to bow to the noisy honking of the motoring lobby.

Clean Air Cheltenham is asking all local politicians to take action.

Alex Chalk: will you now commit to putting World Health Organisation limits on particulates into UK law? Your government voted down this proposal in March this year, because you questioned the ‘economic viability’ of the WHO target.

Cheltenham Borough Councillors: where is the action plan to tackle illegal levels of air pollution in Cheltenham? Your own Nitrogen Dioxide measurements show several sites in the town centre that have been over the legal limit of 40ug/m3 every year for the last 7 years. One of these sites is Gloucester Road, where there is a primary school right on this busy road. The local Air Quality Action Plan expired in 2019. Cheltenham has the same levels of air pollution that were a factor in Ella Kissi-Debrah’s death – and you have no plan in place to take any action!

Gloucestershire County Councillors: will you radically revise the Local Transport Plan away from road building schemes and in support of public transport and active travel?
The county council has a track record of investing in road-building and supporting car use. The Local Transport Plan pays only lip-service to active travel, despite overwhelming public support for a more sustainable approach to travel in the recent consultation round.
If Cheltenham Borough Council comes up with an Air Quality Action Plan that reallocates road space away from cars, will you support this rather than blocking this approach?

Are you aware that under the Environment Act, county councils “are required to submit measures related to their functions (i.e. local transport, highways and public health) to help meet air quality objectives in their local area?”

It is a scandal that really serious action has not been taken already.
Most urban areas including Cheltenham have had illegal levels of diesel-driven nitrogen dioxide since 2010. Levels of particulate pollution in most towns and cities – including Cheltenham – are above WHO limits. A cross-party committee of MPs declared air pollution a “public health emergency” in 2016.

After Ella’s death, what action will you take?