Act now on the toxic air caused by HS2

• THE Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, must, as a matter of urgency, carry out major mass monitoring of the effects on the people of Somers Town (and the carnage of Hampstead Road) of inhaling and ingesting the toxic fumes emanating from HS2 demolitions and building works.

In fact, the dire consequences of HS2’s decision to demolish Maria Fidelis school (circa 1830) in Hampstead Road, led directly to the school building a new replacement in Drummond Crescent; and the people, especially the children, of Somers Town have suffered greatly.

This involved the demolition of the garages, that took up the whole length of the crescent and its demolition not being monitored for the effects of inhaling and ingesting toxic rubble, dust and debris, cement, and chemical fumes used, particularly to both demolish the garages in Drummond Crescent and to build the new school on the same site, so close to the people in their flats opposite (and such a narrow space from which they couldn’t escape the pollution entering their homes); as well as children sitting in school all day breathing in those toxic fumes, among other demolitions all over Euston and Hampstead Road.

The irony is Sir Chris’s specialist subject is air pollution! And as he is located just down the road from Euston. I can’t imagine that he won’t have noticed the air pollution caused in Camden by HS2, and probably all over the country, wherever this dangerous HS2 company has been.

We must therefore, demand that this mass monitoring is carried out by the CMO immediately and without delay.

Incidentally Diana Foster from Somers Town’s A Space for Us has photographs of Drummond Crescent being demolished as evidence.

Also with elections coming up soon, would the MPs in favour of HS2, come clean so that the electorate can choose the politicians who will cause less carnage around them and their families over the next 50 years?

And MPs should realise that things have progressed since 1837, when thousands of the poor could literally be thrown off the land to make way for the greedy railway companies!

MIMI ROMILLY, NW5