It’s nearly 9 years and still more die

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s daughter would be 18 next year.

But it is a milestone Ella will never reach – she died at nine from an asthma attack which a coroner ruled was linked to “excessive” levels of pollution.

Her family live near the busy South Circular road in Lewisham, South London, where traffic emissions push pollution past the legal limits.

Since her death in 2013, Ella’s heartbroken mum has tirelessly urged the Government to introduce stricter air quality rules and launch a public health campaign about the dangers.

Rosamund blasted the latest data on London air quality as “appalling”, adding: “I’ve said again and again this is a crisis.

“There’s a lot of rhetoric about building back cleaner and greener after Covid.

“But I don’t see it. We need the Government to lead by example, implement WHO limits now and take it seriously.

“It will be nine years in February since we lost Ella.

“Where have we got? There are still eight to 10 children a year who die of asthma.”

The teacher, who founded the Ella Roberta Family Foundation, says parents have a right to know the quality of air near schools and ways they could cut pollution.

She said: “We can’t just close roads and expect it to happen.

“The British public need to be taken along on this journey and educated about why we are expecting them to walk instead of drive.

“People are confused – we need a unified message.

“All young people, no matter their race or social class, have the right to breathe clean air – and the Government has a duty to protect them.”

They talk of cleaner and greener after Covid, I don’t see it ELLA’S MUM ROSAMUND ON LONDON POLLUTION

CAMPAIGN Rosamund has battled for 9 years