MEMBERS of the Labour party gathered in Farnham, to demonstrate their frustration at the lack of results concerning pollution and pedestrianisation – on the same day as MP Jeremy Hunt’s emergency pollution summit.

The group gathered at the Royal Deer crossroads, standing by Farnham’s air monitoring station, attaching a sign with the message: “This machine measures the high level of air pollution in Farnham. But when will we see action to reduce it?”

The protesters were gathered in red Labour high-vis jackets, holding signs sending messages demanding action, and providing statistics of damage that air pollution has caused.

The group was led by Labour member Dave Shurlock, a member of the Labour party, who gave a speech at the protest.

He provided examples of air pollution damage by reading a comment, made by chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens, whereby new figures show pollution is “causing thousands of strokes, cardiac arrests and asthma attacks”.

Dave continued: “Here in Farnham town centre we have a monitoring station that for years has been telling Waverley council how bad the air pollution actually is. We also have an MP in Jeremy Hunt who has been telling us how urgent it is to get pedestrianisation of the town centre and get rid of the through traffic.

“As long ago as 2006 – thirteen years ago - it was one of ‘Jeremy’s Ten Ideas’ in a leaflet distributed in the constituency.”

He also found that around every election time, there are “more good ideas on pedestrianisation of Farnham town centre”, but nothing has been done.

Christine Fletcher, climate emergency co-ordinator for South West Surrey was also in attendance, and spoke to the Herald, giving her reasons for joining the protest: “This area suffers from terrible levels of pollution.

“I moved here thinking I was moving away from the dirty air in London, and I was shocked when I discovered Farnham town centre has one of the highest levels of pollution in the country.

“I really want something done about it, we’ve had lots of promises, particularly from Mr Hunt, who since 2006 has had many summits, and has vowed to deal with this urgent issue and nothing has been done.”