Residents suffering 'lifestyle inequality'

- 06 September 2007

AN ENVIRONMENTAL charity wants to tackle what it calls "environmental injustice" in Marks Gate.

The London Sustainability Exchange says poorer communities live in more polluted environments and do not have as many green spaces or as much access to public transport as those in wealthier suburbs.

The exchange is carrying out a pilot project in Marks Gate, studying environmental factors such as the ratio of cars to bikes, access to green spaces and access to public transport.

Researchers at University College, London (UCL), will develop a map highlighting troublespots, which the exchange hopes will prompt Barking and Dagenham Council to address any issues.

Behaviour change programme assistant Jerome Veriter said social and environmental factors were interlinked.

Project officer Shalini Jayasinghe added that research showed people from deprived areas suffered more from respiratory illnesses than those in wealthier areas, and Afro-Caribbean children were more likely to be hit by cars than other youngsters, as the poorest areas often had the highest amounts of traffic.

Early studies in Marks Gate found people were happy with the recycling services in the area, but were scared to use underpasses, and felt facilities for young people were in short supply.

Mrs Jayasinghe said: "Sustainability is what we're trying to promote, through a combination of environmental, social, economic and governance factors.

"For example, the underpasses, you'd say 'it's not an environmental issue', but the thing is, a lot of people say that they can't cross the A12 because of that, therefore they need to take transport in some form, so it's all linked.

"There's an issue of inequality there as well because people say that on the other side of the A12 there are better transport links," she said.

The pilot study is being carried out with London 21 Sustainability Network, Planning Aid for London and UCL.

Mr Veriter said the exchange would work with the new Chadwell Heath-Marks Gate Neighbourhood Management team to help identify the issues.

Chadwell Heath Management Team launch - See this week's Recorder