SPOTLIGHT: How Ealing Transition secured a School Street
After 4 years of consistent effort and campaigning using Breathe London community node data, a group of parents in Ealing led by Rosa Appleby Alis have been able to secure a school street, leading to a 6% decrease in air pollution in the area.
Rosa first became aware of the issue in 2021, after her son had spent countless days in hospital due to asthma attacks. Near a local primary school, significant traffic was building and causing local air pollution. When she raised her concerns with the council, they listened but weren’t able to take action at the time. That year, she connected with Mums for Lungs, who encouraged her to find more likeminded parents to help her campaign for a school street.
In 2022, Mums for Lungs helped Rosa’s group apply for funding from Possible for their first event, a pop-up parklet set up on the roadside to celebrate Car Free Day, which transformed 3 parking spaces into a gathering space for families. The event was a great success, helping to grow the network of supporters for a future school street.
The pop-up parklet event was also a turning point, where Rosa would get in touch with Nick from Ealing Transition, and the two successfully applied for a Breathe London Community node in November. The node was installed in June 2023.
In September 2023, the group of parents ran their first bike bus event.
The Bike Bus event.
In January 2024, the group were finally considered for a school street after sharing Breathe London Community node air quality data with the council.
Later that year, the group organised a school play street outside school and BLCP provided funding for a BMX workshop, engaging children of wider age groups.
A school play street.
Finally, in September 2025, the school street was implemented. In the first six months since the school street was implemented, data from the Breathe London node showed a 6% decrease in air pollution compared to the London average, which was great news for residents.
Parents expressed their support:
“The school street has made such a difference at our school, dropping off and picking up is calm and pollution free and traffic free. Absolutely love it!”
‘We love the freedom the children have with a school street. it's safer, more fun and we are delighted that the air quality has improved in just a short time period. More school streets pls!! 😊”
"Our family are noticing the all-round improvements to wellbeing that the school street has been having on our school community. Evidence of the cleaner air is welcome news to me as a parent of an asthmatic child"
“The school street has really helped and improved our commute to and from school by bike/scooter. The children feel safer and happier. So pleased to hear the air quality has improved outside little Ealing Primary school. Every school should have a school street not only does it benefit our environment, the health of our children but also their wellbeing”
"My family absolutely loves the school street. It's a much calmer start to the day, and makes such a difference of rainy days. It feels so much safer, and easier to breathe."
A local resident said:
“The School Street has made a noticeable difference to the local environment. Even though it only operates for a short period each day, reducing traffic at key times has helped improve air quality and made the area feel safer and calmer for children and families" - Raj Kapoor
Children did too:
A Christmas card from a child.
There is still more to be done: Rosa and her group are aiming for more traffic reduction measures, and a rain garden could also greatly help in reducing surface water flooding and pollution near the school.
Ready to make change in your community just like this group have done? Follow us on Instagram, X, and TikTok. You can also contact us via email (breathelondon@imperial.ac.uk)