You couldn’t make this up: Haringey Council says it needs a policy to enforce the law

Genuinely astonishing.

There is, however, some positive news. Haringey Council now appears much more focused on tackling the pollution from grill restaurants on Green Lanes, including discussion of possible enforcement action and the need to meet clean-air standards.

Other councils, including Camden and Manchester, are already taking action under the Clean Air Act 1993 to set standards for commercial kitchen filtration—measures designed to protect public health rather than allow pollution to be discharged into residents’ homes.

But here’s the jaw-dropping part:

Haringey says it cannot yet take enforcement action against restaurants producing black smoke from their chimneys because it does not yet have a policy in place.

So, what happens next?

We need a clear plan—and we need it quickly:

1. Adopt an existing policy.
Look at the approaches already developed by Camden or Manchester and adapt them for Haringey rather than starting from scratch.

2. Complete the internal review at pace.
Make this a priority across the relevant council departments and get the necessary work completed urgently.

3. Secure political backing.
Clean air and protection of residents’ health should be something councillors can unite around, regardless of party.

4. Start enforcement.
Once the necessary framework is in place, use it. Residents have been asking for action for too long.

This is about more than policy documents and council processes. It is about the air people breathe in their own homes—and the long-term health of our children and our communities.

At Monday’s LCSP meeting, residents repeatedly called for enforcement.

The message from the community is clear: we need action, not more delay.

Haringey Council—now is the time to show that protecting public health is a priority.

Get the policy in place. Start enforcement. Clean up our air.