Some searching questions for Haringey Council about its approach to pollution from the grill restaurants on Green Lanes.

The Council acknowledges the negative impacts of the grills—euphemistically referred to as the "dinner rush"—yet the proposed action plan appears to rely largely on asking businesses to do better voluntarily. Is that really enough?

Green Lanes is one of Haringey's greatest assets. We want it to remain a place where people can enjoy its rich food heritage without compromising the health and wellbeing of those who live, work, and spend time there.

We hope the Council will strengthen its proposals and demonstrate the ambition needed to tackle air pollution while supporting a thriving and sustainable local high street.

Some selected questions - see attached for the full list. I'll share the responses when I get them on HoL.

• What would Haringey Council like the outcome of this engagement and focus on air pollution from the grill restaurants on Green Lanes to be? What does success look like for Haringey Council?
• As a result of the council’s lack of monitoring, residents have been forced to buy their own monitors and undertake the analysis. Why will the council not recognise the local air pollution monitors owned by residents (and more coming soon)? These show significantly higher readings as they focus on key restaurant emitters and impacts to homes. An invitation to review the calibration has been extended since March with no response.
• Why is the reporting tool so difficult and onerous to use? Following the recent portal upgrade, this is even more difficult – this is now accessed via the ‘noise’ reporting button which will put a lot of people off reporting.

•  What is done with residents’ pollution reports? How is this used to guide council activity or inform actions against the restaurants?

• What should residents do to protect their health during the ‘dinner rush’? Should we have windows open for ventilation, go in gardens etc? Particularly during a heatwave.
• The Extraction and Ventilation System Inspection Checklist is almost entirely focused on internal processes and has no measure of pollution emitted into the neighbourhood. If this is used to determine whether restaurants are ‘complaint’, could you confirm this has no bearing on whether the emissions they produce are ‘safe’ for children, vulnerable people or the neighbourhood as a whole?
• Given residents have sent Haringey Council photos and videos of dark smoke being emitted from restaurants and this would appear to be an offence under the Clean Air Act 1993, could you confirm these businesses have been issued with the related fine? Who / how many businesses have been fined under the Clean Air Act 1993 in the past 3 years?
• Can you confirm that there are no legal restrictions on the restaurants emitting high levels of PM 2.5 that are known to be harmful to human health? Could you share the legal advice received so residents can understand?

•  Catherine West MP has confirmed that she will act at a national level, asking questions in parliament or relevant departments around the gaps in the law you have identified. Can you confirm you have shared the blockers with her so she can act – requested in June?

• How many restaurants have been visited so far as part of the public health campaign? This was publicised back in March as a Spring / Summer activity.

• Pleading with the restaurants is unlikely to be productive. If the Statutory background is lacking, then engagement with the restaurants might include emphasising the council will work to fix the Statutory background. We shouldn't simply have to accept the current situation.