New Malden residents took to the streets to install air quality monitoring tubes as part of a campaign to improve the capital’s pollution levels.

London Assembly member Caroline Russell visited New Malden High Street to help install ten diffusion tubes, which measure the amount of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air, on Friday, September 23.

The tubes were installed as part of a campaign by the Green Party politician to identify the capital’s pollution hotspots ahead of London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s decision on whether to expand London’s clean air zone.

Surrey Comet:

Liz Meerabeau, of the New Malden Residents' Association with Caroline Russell 

Ms Russell said: “It’s about understanding how much of an issue it is. We’re going to have choices to make over the coming months.

“We have a problem in London which is very polluted air. The biggest issue is making sure people have an alternative to using a car.

“It’s about what kind of London we want to live in. If we are all brave enough to run with this we could end up with a city that is an amazing place to live.”

The first diffusion tube was placed on a lamppost in the High Street and will stay there for the next four weeks while measuring the level of NO2 in the air, which is caused largely by road traffic.

Mr Khan announced in July that he is considering introducing a £10 charge for driving vehicles with high pollution levels and introducing the Ultra Low Emission Zone in 2019.

The zone, which will set the emission standards for vehicles in central London, could be extended to outer boroughs a year later.

Earlier this month, the New Malden Residents’ Association held a public meeting into how to tackle the borough’s pollution levels.

Suggestions included hybrid buses, car-free shopping, and the reintroduction of Kingston’s tram system.

Frances Marsh, chair of the New Malden Residents’ Association, said: “I think to start any discussion on air quality you have the get the facts and we can now get those.

“They’ve got to do something to get people out of cars and onto forms of transport. They’ve just got to get cars off the roads.”