A dust busting trial is being staged in Lewisham to see if pollution can be washed away.
As part of a pollution-cutting experiment being run by City Hall, harmful dust particles are being stuck to the road surface. The trial is being staged at a Lewisham industrial estate: a place where it is thought there are high levels of pollutants.
When a calcium solution is sprayed on the roads it makes any polluting dust stick to the surface of the road rather than allowing it to circulate in the air where it can get breathed in.
This spray is being used on the roads at Mercury Way industrial site in New Cross, where there are high levels of the pollutant PM10. Before the roads are sprayed with the chemical they are swept and jetwashed by a machine like a roadsweeper.
This experiment in Lewisham follows similar trials in central London.
While the borough council has welcomed the experiment, the Green Party is saying that more has to be done to cut down traffic levels in the capital city.
Boris Johnson, the London Mayor, said it would help make the air cleaner.
He said: “At the dawn of 2012, Londoners are set to benefit from an unprecedented package of short and long measures to deliver cleaner air. This includes us lending out Transport for London’s successful dust suppressant technology to organisations and boroughs that have identified places which have high levels of commercial and industrial activity.”
Councillor Susan Wise, Lewisham Council Cabinet Member, said: “The dust on Mercury Way is produced mostly by the small industrial units in the area whose businesses include skip hire and scrap dealing. We are also working with operators to help them improve work practices to reduce pollution. Dust has been a real problem in the area and although it’s early days, indications are that these measures together are having a beneficial effect.”
Darren Johnson, Lewisham Green Party London Assembly member, said: “Using this is fine but Boris Johnson seems to be putting all his energy into this when the real problem is tackling pollution levels. We need a much bigger emphasis on reducing levels of traffic and the number of vehicles on the road.”