Hundreds of school playgrounds near roads with illegal levels of air pollution

THOUSANDS of children are using playgrounds near to roads with illegal levels of pollution, according to new analysis.

More than 950 schools are near roads which have harmful levels of illegal pollution, research found. The findings that thousands of children are playing in playgrounds within 150 metres of roads with illegal air pollution across the UK comes from an assessment of government data for environmental law charity Clientearth.

A Yougov survey for the environmental lawyers found that three quarters (76 per cent) of 1,141 parents and carers questioned want extra measures to protect pupils whose schools and playgrounds are in illegally polluted areas. Some 57 per cent of 1,658 adults questioned in the poll felt the Government was not acting quickly enough to tackle air quality problems.

Air pollution is linked to the early deaths of about 40,000 people a year in the UK, causes problems such as heart and lung diseases and asthma, and affects children’s development. Clientearth says children are being exposed to nitrogen dioxide at dangerous levels. There are legal limits on the levels of the toxic gas that can exist in the atmosphere. Its air quality lawyer, Alan Andrews, said: “Thousands of children in this country are playing in playgrounds near illegally polluted roads.

“This is a legal and moral failing of our political leaders that puts children’s health at risk at a time when they are still growing and therefore vulnerable.”

Meanwhile, a UN report has warned that air pollution is continuing to “plague” Britain and that the Government is “flouting” its duty to protect the health of citizens. UN special rapporteur on toxic waste Baskut Tuncak said he was “alarmed that despite repeated judicial instruction, the UK Government continues to flout its duty to ensure adequate air quality.”

He said children and older people were especially at risk. However, the Government has pointed to its plans for a “green Brexit”.