Boris Johnson was today accused of putting poorer residents’ lives at risk when he delayed introducing the Low Emission Zone during his tenure as Mayor of London.
Ella Kissi-Debrah, who lived 80ft from the south circular road in south-east London, died after three years of seizures and 27 visits to hospital for treatment to breathing problems.
A n inquest in 2014 concluded the cause of the nine-year-old’s death was acute respiratory failure as a result of a severe asthma attack.
But the inquest reopened yesterday after fresh evidence emerged in 2018 suggesting air pollution was to blame for Ella’s death.
Today, the court heard how phase three of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ), a principle way to reduce emissions, was pushed back from 2010 to 2012 – a year before Ella died.
Assistant Coroner Philip Barlow said the former Mayor’s 2010 report on deferring the project was ‘lacking’ and seemed to prioritise economic benefits above health impacts.
The delay to implementing LEZ phase 3 in 2010 would have had a bigger impact on people with respiratory problems in deprived areas, the inquest heard.
Ella Kissi-Debrah lived just 80ft from a notorious pollution ‘hotspot’ on the busy south circular road in Lewisham, south-east London – one of the capital’s busiest roads
A report submitted to the High Court by Professor Stephen Holgate in 2018 found air pollution levels at a monitoring station one mile from Ella’s home ‘consistently’ exceeded lawful limits.
Assistant Coroner Philip Barlow said the health benefits from bringing in LEZ – especially for people identified as ‘vulnerable groups’ with respiratory and lung problems – were known in 2010.
Ella Kissi-Debrah, nine, died in 2013
When asked if delaying LEZ phase 3 would ‘affect people with respiratory problems in deprived areas more’, Philip Graham, executive director of the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) Good Growth fund, replied: ‘I think that’s likely to be the case.’
Today, Southwark Coroner’s Court heard that as early as 2002 then-mayor Ken Livingstone was concerned about the lethal potential of nitrogen oxides (NOx).
In a strategy published at the time, he warned London would struggle to meet its air quality targets without ‘new effort’ from the Government.
Mr Graham said the capital was not likely to meet legally binding limits on NOx emissions until at least 2025. The targets, which were set by the EU, came into force in 2010.
Despite the targets, NOx reductions were not a priority in the first phase of the Low Emission Zone, which came into force in 2008 and primarily sought to curb emissions of fine particulate matter.
Including NOx in the plans would have involved the regulation of private diesel cars, and not just commercial vehicles.
Ella’s mother Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debra, pictured in 2018 at the south circular road in Catford, south London
Mr Graham said Mr Livingstone would have been focusing on building consensus with his plans for cleaner air to avoid them becoming a ‘political football’ that would be reversed by the next mayor.
The court also heard that although Boris Johnson made the decision not to extend the Congestion Charge Zone, studies indicated it would not have made much difference to emissions.
Mr Graham said that all three London mayors since the position was created in 2000 had found appealing to the Government for support ‘more of a source of frustration than an effective means’ of change.
He said successive mayors have asked for more ambitious scrappage policies for the most polluting vehicles, changes to vehicle tax and clearer national frameworks around low emission zones.
They have also asked for a national alert service around pollution levels coupled with PR campaigns about the risks of air pollution similar to those around smoking and obesity.
Ella’s mother Rosamund Kissi-Debrah (pictured) listened in to the start of the landmark inquest at Southwark Coroner’s Court today via an audio link
Ella’s inquest has been listed under Article 2, the right to life, of the Human Rights Act, which scrutinises the role of public bodies in a person’s death.
The inquest will consider whether air pollution caused or contributed to Ella’s death and how levels were monitored at the time.
Other issues to be addressed include the steps taken to reduce air pollution, and the information provided to the public about the levels, its dangers and ways to reduce exposure.
Ella may become the first person in the UK for whom air pollution is listed as the cause of death.
Transport for London (TfL), three Government departments and the Mayor of London’s office have been listed as interested parties in a fresh inquest into Ella’s death.
Also listed are her mother, Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, and Lewisham Council.
The inquest continues.