Richmond Council have added new policies of air quality and climate change to its Joint Local Health & Wellbeing Strategy for 2024-2029.

The scheme is updated from its 2016-2021 strategy covering steps to health and wellbeing in communities during every stage of their lives. 

Cllr Piers Allen, Chair of the Adult Social Services, Health and Housing Services Committee and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, said: "Our focus is to create a fairer and healthier borough for all and keep our residents healthy and happy at all stages of their lives." 

Air pollution in parts of Richmond upon Thames, especially around our main roads and town centres, exceed legal UK objective limits. In Richmond 60% of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) comes from transport.

The Greater London Authority stresses there is no safe level of air pollution which does not have an impact of health. 

The estimated fraction of mortality or deaths attributable to particulate air pollution place Richmond 23rd out of the 33 boroughs in London at 6.2%; this is higher than the England and London averages of 5.5% and 6.5%, respectively (OHID, Fingertips, 2021 data).

To tackle air quality, Richmond Council proposes the continued implementation of the Borough Air Quality Action Plan. The focus of the plan is predominantly anti-idling, regulating construction emissions. It does not yet mention ULEZ.

In Richmond 60% of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) comes from transport. (Photo: Mark Waghorn)

The document states it will calculate the success of the plan if the borough's air pollution decreases as well as the number of deaths attributable to particulate air pollution declines. 

The council includes climate change as part of the steps to health and wellbeing because of its connection to air quality. Common pollutants like nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide contribute to global warming, which in turn can create a smog-like atmosphere in hot summers.

During summer 2022 there was an estimated 2,985 excess deaths associated with heat waves, the highest number in any given year. 

Richmond council plans to continue its Climate Change Strategy and implement the new local Spatial Plan helping developments to limit its carbon emissions. 

In measuring its success, the council omits if it will look at patient data as to whether heat-related illnesses or deaths will increase. It will measure success by the implementations of its plans and if communities and vulnerable groups engage with the identification of climate risks. 

Ensuring progress on both air quality and climate change, the council also hopes to work with local NHS bodies, local pharmacies, and voluntary sector partners to raise awareness for vulnerable groups.

Residents asked to provide input  invites on plan for local health needs

Richmond Council has launched a consultation inviting residents to feedback on a its Joint Local Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2029.

The scheme is updated from its 2016-2021 strategy covering steps to health and wellbeing in communities during every stage of their lives. 

In comparison to the 2016-21 Health and Wellbeing plan, the new schemes has a renewed childhood immunisations, adult immunisations, cervical cancer screening, Long Covid, air quality and climate change. 

The plan will go into detail about how the 18 steps can be met in a way that most benefits local people, such as rethinking the services provided, commissioning new ones and agreeing which local organisations hold responsibility for each action going forward.

The aim is to keep people healthier for longer, to delay the need for health and care services and to adopt a system-wide approach to preventing ill health, promoting positive health and wellbeing, and addressing health inequalities. 

The online survey portal will be open for feedback until 21 September. There is no need to answer questions about every priority – only the ones respondents feel are most relevant or important to them. The final plan will be published in autumn 2023. 

Take the survey.