• AS a first, I attended the election West Hampstead hustings last week and was deeply disappointed by the misleading answers given by the Labour team in response to residents’ concerns.

A resident, who suffered from asthma, asked about air pollution. This is a concern for all of us. In my road we are currently suffering with pollution levels 50 per cent over EU standards. Children walking to school are inhaling this daily.

Having held power in Camden for the last eight years, you would have expected a slick response from the Labour team. Instead, the finger was pointed at Barnet Tories, for a development as yet unbuilt.

There was a total failure to accept accountability. There was no acknowledgement that Labour’s planning committee have consistently agreed to the felling of mature trees and reduced green spaces.

Instead we were told that Camden Labour were going to adopt World Health Organisation air pollution standards. This is after their failure to meet even EU levels.

We were not told that the aim is to achieve this in 20 years’ time. I do hope the resident who asked the question will still be alive and well in 2030. The children who walk to school will probably be parents themselves before Labour take any action.

For myself, once I realised that my own life expectancy could well be reduced if Labour wins, I left the hustings early. Life is too short to waste on political bamboozlement.

PENNY DAVIS
Briardale Gardens, NW3