GIPSY HILL - LAMBETH
GIPSY HILL - LAMBETH
WHY GIPSY HILL?
Gipsy Hill in Lambeth was chosen for the AWAIR project due to intersecting challenges throughout the area, click the link above to read more.
Peckham, one of Southwark's key wards, was chosen for the AWAIR project for several important reasons, click the text above to read more.
HOW TO TAKE ACTION ON AIR POLLUTION
WHY GIPSY HILL?
Gipsy Hill was selected as Lambeth’s ward for the display monitors due to its unique combination of challenges. It is one of the top wards in the borough for several key factors:
High Health Risks: Gipsy Hill ranks among the highest for both all cancers and emergency hospital admissions. Poor air quality is directly linked to these outcomes, making it a priority area for intervention.
Digital Exclusion: A high percentage of Gipsy Hill residents lack digital access or literacy, meaning they are less likely to benefit from traditional online air quality information. By installing outdoor air quality displays, we can provide vital environmental data directly to the community without relying on digital means.
Mixed Environment: Gipsy Hill includes residential areas, schools, and parks, allowing the AWAIR project to assess and display air quality differences across different types of spaces.
We surveyed and engaged Gipsy Hill community members to cement where the air quality displays will be located. To start, the displays are put up on the A2199, A214, Gipsy Hill Road, Hawke Road, and Gipsy Hill station. Reasons for why each location was selected varied per resident, but common themes included high pedestrian footfall traffic, children friendly areas, and accessible for residents to see and engage with.
The installation of air quality displays in Gipsy Hill has been shaped by feedback from the local community, ensuring that they are placed where they can have the most impact. Key themes emerged from the suggestions, and these have guided the decision on display locations:
High-Footfall and Traffic Areas: Community members identified busy areas with significant pedestrian and vehicle traffic as key locations for displays. For example, the main entrance to Crystal Palace Park at the Vicar's Oak and the corner of Anerley Hill were suggested as ideal spots due to heavy footfall and the convergence of multiple roads. Another busy location is Westow Street, near the shopping centre, where pedestrians and shoppers pass by regularly.
Community and Health Hubs: Locations near health centers and local shops were prioritized as they see a lot of daily traffic. A notable example is the display outside Gipsy Hill Station, as well as near the parade of shops on Gipsy Road, close to Paxton Surgery Group NHS Practice. These areas ensure a broad reach of air quality information to residents and visitors alike.
Schools and Child-Friendly Areas: Protecting children from pollution was a major theme, with several suggestions for locations near schools. The community suggested placing a display near Kingswood Primary School on Gipsy Road/Salter’s Hill. This location would not only monitor air quality but also educate children and their parents on pollution levels in the area.
Parks and Green Spaces: Crystal Palace Park was frequently highlighted as an important spot for a display. With entrances like the one at Vicar’s Oak or near Sainsbury's, which sees both park visitors and busy traffic, the park offers a key space to contrast pollution levels with nearby congested roads.
Residential and Quiet Areas: Some community members proposed locations in quieter residential areas to provide a comparative view of air quality. For example, Hawke Road on Central Hill was suggested as a location where the air quality could be contrasted with the busier center of Crystal Palace. These locations still attract foot traffic and could serve to engage children living in the area.
These themes and specific examples reflect the community's collective effort to ensure that air quality displays are placed where they will have the most benefit, both for awareness and education in Gipsy Hill.
To give your opinion on where other displays should be located, you can fill out this form to have your say.
Community-Driven Locations for Gipsy Hill Air Quality Displays
Lambeth
Lambeth, as part of a broader initiative that includes Southwark, was chosen because of its diverse communities, varying pollution levels, and distinct health outcomes related to poor air quality.
The borough is home to areas with significant air pollution, especially along major arterial roads like the A23, A205, and A2217. Many areas in the northern part of Lambeth, including Vauxhall and Waterloo, face particularly high pollution concentrations. Additionally, the detrimental health impacts of air pollution in Lambeth are striking, with conditions such as COPD, asthma, and dementia being exacerbated by pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
By deploying solar-powered air quality display devices in Lambeth, the AWAIR project aims to engage residents in areas where poor health outcomes and digital exclusion intersect, helping these communities gain access to critical environmental data.