Enderby Wharf is still a hot topic. Last week at City Hall, Mayor Sadiq Khan was quizzed by Lib Dem Caroline Pidgeon, as to why Enderby Wharf was left out of his environmental strategy. You can read the full report in News Shopper attached, but basically the upshot is that Mr Khan promised to meet with the new leader of Greenwich council, Danny Thorpe, hoping he can persuade the council do the right thing. Mr Khan said to Ms Pidgeon “I was surprised as you were when I saw this permission was granted, but I’m hoping the new leader will understand the concerns of City Hall on a cross-party basis.” Danny Thorpe has said that he is looking forward to meeting the mayor. We very much hope that talk turns into action, especially as the Government's long awaited 'ambitious' Clean Air Strategy document fails to mention Enderby Wharf or onshore power*. All it does mention is Nitrogen Oxides from 2021 for new vessels. Hardly ambitious. IT’S TIME SOMEONE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY Clearly there’s been a lot of talking, and various environmental strategies being trotted out from different authorities declaring their commitment to improving air quality (see below), but ultimately no one is taking responsibility for Enderby Wharf, or for emissions on the river. Certainly no one seems willing to take on the developers and the cruise ship companies. Given that cruise ships are far greater polluters than road vehicles, Enderby Wharf is a huge mistake. The emissions cruise ships produce are lethal. Yet they can roll up outside homes and schools and pump out toxic fumes with impunity. Polluting cars and lorries pay fines. Ships get the red carpet treatment. Residents on both sides of the river are living with the constant fear of this development hanging over them and the impact it will have on the health of their families. Many are questioning their future in Greenwich. We need real political resolve to achieve a clean port - with an onshore power supply installed from day one - or no port at all. Campaigners have been fighting against the cruise port for three years with the help of MPs, and yet, in real terms, nothing has changed. Enderby Wharf makes a mockery of London as a modern day city and its claims for clean air. Greenwich Council should never have given it the go ahead. It’s time to admit there’s been a monumental mistake and put it right. HOW CAN YOU HELP? To help us keep up the pressure please register on the NoToxicPort website at https://www.notoxiccruiseport.london/join-the-fight. You’ll receive regular updates and you can download leaflets to help drum up support. In the meantime feel free to write to your MP or tweet @michaelgove, @Royal_Greenwich, @MayorofLondon, @Nus_Ghani and let them know that you want a clean cruise port or none at all. Check out: Mayor’s strategy: https://www.london.gov.uk/WHAT-WE-DO/environment/environment-publications/draft-london-environment-strategy Govt’s strategy: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environmental-quality/clean-air-strategy-consultation/