The clean air technology has been sitting unused for over a month, with no confirmed appointment for the council to come turn it on.
SHARE:
A clean air technology system installed at an Islington nursery back in September remains unused, as the council has yet to turn the system on.
The Bennett Court Playgroup nursery, is in a particularly high-risk area for air pollution, with two of London’s most polluting roads (Seven Sisters Road and Holloway Road) a block away.
Indeed, monitoring of the playgroup air quality revealed that children at the playgroup were being exposed to pollution above the legal limit.
In response to this alarming discovery, Helena Farstad, co-founder of Islington Clean Air Parents and Bennett Court management committee treasure, teamed up with green technology company Evergen and the ride-hailing app Gett.
Evergen is the manufacturer of the air purifies and put up the costs for the install and maintenance. The machines themselves were paid for by a crowd-funding campaign launched by Gett.
Riders on the taxi app could opt to pay 20p to fund the clean air project for their local school.
The Bennett Court Playgroup nursery, is in a particularly high-risk area for air pollution, with two of London’s most polluting roads.
The system was successfully installed on 19 September, but after it became clear that an extension cord would be needed to turn it on, the playgroup staff contacted their local council, who owns the property.
Islington Council made an appointment for an electrician to visit the property on 4 October, but didn’t turn up.
The clean air technology has been sitting unused for over a month, with no confirmed appointment for the council to come turn it on.
Islington Council refused to be interviewed for this story, saying, in a statement, “I’m afraid that we don’t have the resources to help get information or responses to new enquiries.”
Farstad, whose child also attends Bennett Court is anxious for the equipment to be turned on.
“Indoor air quality is often much worse than outdoor air quality. Providing these young children with several hours of clean air, whilst at playgroup, is the least we can do.”
“I cannot wait to turn the ‘On’ button on,” she said. “Clean air cannot come fast enough for these kids.”
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineClean air system sitting unused at Islington council nursery
Short HeadlineClean air tech at nursery faces council delays
StandfirstA month after installation, Evergen air purifies at Bennett Court playgroup face council delays.
Clean air technology was installed at a nursery in Islington back in September, but the council has yet to turn the technology on.
The nursery, Bennett Court Playgroup, is in a particularly high-risk area for air pollution, with two of London’s most polluting roads (Seven Sisters Road and Holloway Road) a block away. Indeed, monitoring of the playgroup air quality revealed that children at the playgroup were being exposed to pollution above the legal limit.
In response to this alarming discovery, Helena Farstad, co-founder of Islington Clean Air Parents and Bennett Court management committee treasure, teamed up with green technology company Evergen and the ride-hailing app Gett. Evergen is the manufacturer of the air purifies and put up the costs for the install and maintenance. The machines themselves were paid for by a crowd-funding campaign launched by Gett. Riders on the taxi app could opt to pay 20p to fund the clean air project for their local school.
Bennett Court
One group that has been conspicuously absent from the project, however, is Islington Council. The system was successfully installed on September 19th. But after it became clear that an extension cord would be needed to turn it on, the playgroup staff contacted their local council, who owns the property. Islington Council made an appointment for an electrician to visit the property on October 4th, but didn’t turn up. The clean air technology has been sitting unused for over a month now, with no confirmed appointment for the council to come turn it on.
Islington Council refused to be interviewed for this story, saying, in a statement, “I’m afraid that we don’t have the resources to help get information or responses to new enquiries.”
Farstad is also a parent of a child at Bennett Court and is anxious to be able to turn on the equipment.
“Indoor air quality is often much worse than outdoor air quality,” Farstad explained. “Providing these young children with several hours of clean air, whilst at playgroup, is the least we can do.”
“I cannot wait to turn the ‘On’ button on,” she emphasized. “Clean air cannot come fast enough for these kids.”
A clean air technology system installed at an Islington nursery back in September remains unused, as the council has yet to turn the system on.
The Bennett Court Playgroup nursery, is in a particularly high-risk area for air pollution, with two of London’s most polluting roads (Seven Sisters Road and Holloway Road) a block away.
Indeed, monitoring of the playgroup air quality revealed that children at the playgroup were being exposed to pollution above the legal limit.
In response to this alarming discovery, Helena Farstad, co-founder of Islington Clean Air Parents and Bennett Court management committee treasure, teamed up with green technology company Evergen and the ride-hailing app Gett.
Evergen is the manufacturer of the air purifies and put up the costs for the install and maintenance. The machines themselves were paid for by a crowd-funding campaign launched by Gett.
Riders on the taxi app could opt to pay 20p to fund the clean air project for their local school.
The Bennett Court Playgroup nursery, is in a particularly high-risk area for air pollution, with two of London’s most polluting roads.
The system was successfully installed on 19 September, but after it became clear that an extension cord would be needed to turn it on, the playgroup staff contacted their local council, who owns the property.
Islington Council made an appointment for an electrician to visit the property on 4 October, but didn’t turn up.
The clean air technology has been sitting unused for over a month, with no confirmed appointment for the council to come turn it on.
Islington Council refused to be interviewed for this story, saying, in a statement, “I’m afraid that we don’t have the resources to help get information or responses to new enquiries.”
Farstad, whose child also attends Bennett Court is anxious for the equipment to be turned on.
“Indoor air quality is often much worse than outdoor air quality. Providing these young children with several hours of clean air, whilst at playgroup, is the least we can do.”
“I cannot wait to turn the ‘On’ button on,” she said. “Clean air cannot come fast enough for these kids.”
A 2024 Freedom of Information request showed Bromley Council had £4.5 million invested in arms companies that year with £1.5 million reportedly linked to Israel.
Undercover officers raided three linked shops in Barking town centre, revealing how illicit tobacco is being hidden in walls, ceilings and nearby locations to evade detection.
More than 330,000 people across the UK sought support from the Stop It Now helpline in 2025 over concerns about their own or someone else’s online sexual behaviour towards children, according to new charity data. The anonymous service says contacts by phone, email and webchat rose significantly over the year.