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"Air pollution in Scotland 'creating public health crisis' "

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  1. chdot
    Admin

  2. amh13
    Member

    Having lived abroad near Milan, Edinburgh's air pollution doesn't seem that bad at all.

    In Milan, during most of the year the smog is visible and sometimes is so bad that it reduces visibility considerably. I've never witnessed this happening in Scotland.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  3. HankChief
    Member

    This is a good idea. Wonder if it will take off (#BadPun)

    "A growing number of firms have pledged to give their employees extra days off a year to go on holiday by train rather than flying there."

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/10/12/employers-ease-flying-guilt-awarding-extra-holiday-time-rail/

    Posted 4 years ago #
  4. Rosie
    Member

    @HankChief - I went to Prague by train in August. 1 day Edinburgh - Brussels, 1 Brussels to Prague (supposedly 4 trains the Brussels-Prague leg but with diversions and missing connections, was 6). I hate flying and love trains and did enjoy the journey, if nothing else for envying the Germans their bike space on trains. Also it's only 21 euros from Brussels to Prague.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  5. mgj
    Member

    We are taking the train to Croatia in the summer, and it is cheaper than flying, not least because partners 10 year old goes with a much greater discount than you get when flying. Looking forward to the adventure of overnights across the north of Italy. Most expensive part will be getting to London.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  6. Rosie
    Member

    @mgj - yes, from Edinburgh there are always those extra hours and cost.

    I want to go to Stockholm next year. I suppose it would be a ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam and trains the rest of the way.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  7. HankChief
    Member

    We're experimenting with a family train trip to Paris (& London) next year but may look to expand our horizons if that is a success.

    For those considering such escapades, I can thoroughly recommend Seat61 as an invaluable source of info & tips.

    https://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-tickets.htm

    Posted 4 years ago #
  8. chdot
    Admin

    “ it's only 21 euros from Brussels to Prague.”

    Yep, did that last year - inexplicably cheap.

    Sadly it’s about the same for EDI to Prague by cheapest plane.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  9. chdot
    Admin

  10. fimm
    Member

    https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/oct/16/urban-living-makes-us-miserable-this-city-is-trying-to-change-that
    "The 'Glasgow effect' implies cities make us sad. Can the city prove the opposite?
    David Walsh of the Glasgow Centre for Population Health set out to understand why Glaswegians have a 30% higher risk of dying prematurely than those living in similar post-industrial British cities.
    "

    Transport gets a mention as do many other things.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  11. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    "How Nottingham cut air pollution with UK’s only workplace parking levy"

    https://www.ft.com/content/d4fb89b0-ee61-11e9-ad1e-4367d8281195

    Posted 4 years ago #
  12. chdot
    Admin

  13. neddie
    Member

    Had the misfortune to cycle in to town from Bonnyrigg today, along Lasswade Rd.

    My word the pollution was bad. Absolutely disgusting, sickening fumes along the entirety of Lasswade Rd.

    People are literally poisoning their own children with this s***

    This has to stop.

    And I passed a liveried van on the the descent into Lasswade, only to catch them up again at the bottom of Kirk Brae. Plus a red Fiesta driver that gave me a close-ish pass near the bypass, caught her again at Causewayside. I wasn't even going that fast... Pathetic.

    Posted 4 years ago #
  14. HankChief
    Member

  15. chdot
    Admin

    The public want less traffic and cleaner air but fear if the plans get it wrong there could be a risk of concentrating pollution along hotspots in the west of Edinburgh, such as St John’s Road and Queensferry Road.

    ?

    Posted 4 years ago #
  16. neddie
    Member

    Cognitive dissonance there from Christine Jardine:

    "We want to reduce traffic, but we don't want to stop-up any rat-runs in case motorists divert to St John's Rd and Queensferry Rd, further jamming them up and increasing pollution"

    The only solution to this is to stop-up rat-runs and to introduce pay-per-use charges along the arterial routes

    Posted 4 years ago #
  17. chdot
    Admin

  18. gembo
    Member

    @neddie, yes but as you know you are describing the resolution of cognitive dissonance

    Posted 3 years ago #
  19. wishicouldgofaster
    Member

    Get ready for -
    War on motorist and what about the disabled (although strangely the disabled are ignored when it comes to drivers parking on pavements)

    Posted 3 years ago #
  20. chdot
    Admin

  21. chdot
    Admin

  22. chdot
    Admin


    Ella Kissi-Debrah: Air pollution a factor in girl's death, inquest finds

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-london-55330945

    Posted 3 years ago #
  23. crowriver
    Member

    Golly gosh! Really?

    "The Scottish Government’s pursuit of a road building programme that may produce more, rather than fewer, car journeys may make achieving the desired reduction in car travel more difficult. In addition, the Scottish Government will also have to carefully manage demand for car travel as we exit the coronavirus pandemic, to prevent unsustainable travel choices becoming embedded in people’s daily routines."

    https://spice-spotlight.scot/2020/12/16/back-to-the-future-reducing-car-travel-in-scotland/

    Posted 3 years ago #
  24. chdot
    Admin

  25. chdot
    Admin

    Dr David R Boyd, UN special rapporteur on human rights and environment, agreed with Mehta’s analysis, telling the Guardian: “Air pollution causes 7 million premature deaths annually, so it is understandable if people feel compelled to migrate in search of clean air to safeguard their health. Air pollution is a global public health disaster that does not get the attention it deserves because most of the people who die are poor or otherwise vulnerable.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/15/air-pollution-will-lead-to-mass-migration-say-experts-after-landmark-ruling

    Posted 3 years ago #
  26. chdot
    Admin

    Limiting air pollution 'could prevent 50,000 deaths in Europe'

    World Health Organization estimates air pollution kills more than 7 million people each year

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/20/limiting-air-pollution-could-prevent-50000-deaths-in-europe

    Posted 3 years ago #
  27. chdot
    Admin

    UK mayors urge Boris Johnson to commit to tougher air pollution targets

    Cross-party group sign joint letter after inquest into death of nine-year-old Ella Kissi-Debrah

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/27/uk-mayors-boris-johnson-tougher-air-pollution-targets

    Needs a bit more ‘urging’ in Scotland too.

    How many SP manifestos will it be in??

    Posted 3 years ago #
  28. chdot
    Admin


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