Hampstead Pond Street pollution predicted but never tackled

Residents will remember that prior to the development of the Royal Free Hospital Pears building in Hampstead there was a slip road running alongside the adjoining building that had the Dr Strange garden atop. The road was useful for vehicles entering the hospital from Pond Street, and leaving to join Rowland Hill Street.

Residents could predict problems from losing the slip road but nevertheless, demolition of the side building went ahead, and the slip road disappeared.

The result - heavy traffic congestion from Royal Free Hospital visitors trying to enter and exit out of limited car spaces, causing tailbacks of cars and buses at both ends of Pond Street. Add to the mix drivers circling nearby streets looking for parking and the extra emissions from waiting taxis for those who know it’s useless to even try. Build in new traffic lights that don’t synchronise efficiently, and the seemingly never ending road works along Rosslyn Hill and Haverstock Hill and we have standstill.

Cllr Linda Chung says the congestion on Pond Street can easily be solved (Image: Camden Council)

The result - toxic concentrated air pollution from idling engines which local residents can see, smell and feel. Further evidence of the dangerous level of pollution is provided by the Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum air monitoring group, who highlighted Pond Street as one of the most polluted streets in Hampstead (airscape.ai/map/GB_CMD/place/nodes%23master%3Adevices%3Ab836a).

There are several quick solutions to this - the Royal Free could manage entry and exit into their car park better to avoid queues causing tailbacks onto the public highway, making clear that idling of vehicle engines is unlawful, better synchronisation of traffic lights, and speeding up of road works.

Residents here are willing to work with all the forces trying to make our environment better but ultimately, it’s up to Camden Council to have stronger oversight and control of long term factors such as construction and highway works, if we are ever to achieve the laudable aims of its clean air action plan.

The dangerous air pollution built up in Pond Street is only one illustration of the many badly affected parts throughout Camden. If we don’t all act in a concerted manner now to stop foreseeable cumulative impact, heaven help us from the health effects of inhaling poisonous air and world climate change.

Cllr Linda Chung,  Hampstead Town ward and chair, Resource and Corporate Performance Scrutiny Committee, Camden Council.