Campaigners Call for Planting of Great West Hedge
Green barrier would protect schools and houses along A4 from Hammersmith to Chiswick
What if London’s main western traffic corridor was through a verdant corridor of greenery, instead of a dusty grey six lane highway with houses and schools protected by a high barrier or green hedges and shrubbery?
A group of local campaigners are pressing for a Great West Hedge to run along a two kilometre stretch of the A4 from Hammersmith Flyover to Chiswick.
They have teamed up with the London National Park City movement, which launches in July and are now looking for funding for the project, which aims offset the pollution caused by the relentless traffic along the road.
The hedge would cover the entire length of the M4/A4 western 'cut out' of the ULEZ October 2021 expansion, which has been dubbed 'the unprotected banana', and areas covered by the Chiswick and Hammersmith Air Quality Focus Areas.
It would run along both sides of the A4 from Chiswick roundabout to the Hammersmith flyover, as shown in this map.
The group includes Kate Hollis, Karen Liebreich of Abundance London, Andrea Carnevali of the Chiswick Oasis project at St Mary's Primary School, Steve Pocock of the National Park City movement who is a local resident, and Rory Harding of the charity Trees for Cities.
They say: "An increasing body of research and evidence shows the dangers of air pollution on health, especially of children and the elderly. It also shows that a protective barrier of greenery can help filter and screen out the worst of these pollutants.
"Between Chiswick and Hammersmith (Chiswick roundabout and Hammersmith flyover) there are eight schools, five nurseries and six parks. Two of these schools were recently audited and found to be high amongst the list of 50 most polluted schools in London. Children in these schools are no longer allowed to play in the playground. This is a disgrace!
"We – local residents involved with National Park City, Abundance London and Chiswick Oasis, and supported by most of the local residents’ groups and schools - propose a high hedge to run wherever possible along the existing grass verge of the A4 to create a protective screen behind which the schools can breathe, pedestrians can walk, people can cycle, residents can live safely.
"As the hedges thicken out and more people drive electric, the hedges can harbour biodiversity and will still protect against noise, dust and tyre pollution. Other advantages include sustainable drainage (SuDS) and carbon capture.
"We propose this hedge as a Living Laboratory, an experiment that could be repeated throughout the country if successful."
It could also encourage people to cycle along the A4 where there is a little used cycle lane.
While costings have not been done, it is likely that such a project would need a six figure sum, possibly up to £250,000 to realise. It is also hoped that similar groups living further along the A4, might take up the challenge.
They now want the Mayor, the Greater London Assembly and Transport for London to support this project as a fitting launch for London as a National Park City – to be installed in winter 2019/20.
After five years of campaigning London will become the world’s first National Park City in July 2019. A place, a vision and a movement, the London National Park City has been supported by thousands of Londoners, the majority of the city’s 2,000 local politicians and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Read more at London National Park City.
The National Park City Foundation has been established to work with Londoners to help make the London National Park City, and other National Park Cities, a success.
May 10, 2019