• IN Kentish Town High Street I saw a very brightly coloured Camden and Islington vehicle with the word “BREATHE”: emblazoned all over it and various other logos regarding stopping smoking.

It was parked and stationary. However I noticed the engine was running and there was no driver. I spotted him standing on the pavement, with a T-shirt bearing the same “BREATHE” message across his chest, quite ironically.

I asked him: “Why is your engine running while stationary?” He said he was waiting for a parking space. I told him he was advocating “Breathe” but he was blatantly polluting the air himself. He made several excuses but did eventually switch the engine off.

It’s not the first time a council vehicle that I have seen has had its engine running while stationary. Every council needs to get its own house in order regarding “idling” in order to set a good example to the public.

E SHAPIRO
North Road, N7