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Sarah Ludford campaigns for clean air in London
April 6, 2010 11:00 AM
Responding to Mayor Boris Johnson's publication of his draft air quality strategy, London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, a long time campaigner for cleaner air in the capital, said:
"We have a health emergency in the capital with thousands of avoidable deaths annually. Decisive measures are needed to slash the dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide and airborne particles in central London and around Heathrow."
"But Mayor Johnson is still failing to take bold action. His suggestions include washing the streets, planting trees and banning the running of engines when stationary. This is fiddling while Londoners die: he has no proposals to target pollution hotspots and has even delayed measures to tackle dirty vans."
"Only the Liberal Democrats are proposing a Berlin-style Clean Air Zone including incentives to get old diesel vehicles off our roads and a quicker clean-up of buses and taxis."
Last month Sarah Ludford and her London Liberal Democrat colleagues Ed Davey MP and Mike Tuffrey AM sent new environment commissioner Janez Potočnik a letter demanding that he make enforcing the EU's strict air quality standards in London a priority. Commenting on Commissioner Potočnik's reply, Sarah said:
"His pledge of robust action to enforce EU clean air standards for both dirty particles and poisonous nitrogen dioxide is a welcome contrast to the lax approach of our Labour government and Tory Mayor. The Commission's help with advice to the government and London boroughs on plans to improve London air quality is also valuable."
"But Commissioner Potočnik needs to make sure he is not misled into allowing time extensions. The UK is already breaching the relevant limits for NO2. Only a miracle or some very creative statistics will save the UK from possible court action."
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