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London Assembly Liberal DemocratsCaroline Pidgeon and Stephen Knight: Fighting for London |
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Hole in the heart of Mayor's new air quality strategy - Mike Tuffrey
December 14, 2010 11:13 AM
Mike Tuffrey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly environment spokesman, commenting on the Mayor's Air Quality Strategy which has finally been published today, said:
"London's appalling air pollution is one of the biggest health problems facing the capital, leading to 4,300 premature deaths per year and countless thousands suffering ill health. It is therefore bitterly disappointing that the Mayor's strategy, after months in the making, still has a hole at its heart - the lack of effective measures to tackle pollution where it's worst in central London.
"For almost two years I have called on the Mayor to bring in a Berlin-style clear air zone, using the existing camera enforcement system to exclude the oldest and most polluting vehicles.
"The Mayor has failed to act on the evidence available and the best he is now offering is merely further talks with the boroughs, when instead decisive action is needed to protect the health of Londoners."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. For more information about how a Clean Air Zone (an additional low emission zone) in central London would work see:
http://www.glalibdems.org.uk/resources/sites/217.160.173.25-3e54d44dcb2780.65885247/Factsheets/Clean+Air+Zone+Briefing.pdf
2. Mike Tuffrey first questioned the Mayor about the merits of a Clean Air Zone in February 2009:
http://www.london.gov.uk/profile/mike-tuffrey
3. The Mayor's Air Quality Strategy states in relation to low emission control schemes in
3.12.3. London boroughs may wish to explore establishing their own emission control
schemes in response to local circumstances. Where appropriate and consistent with
Mayoral strategies, the Mayor will consider supporting these, for example through the
LIP process and other measures. To ensure London-wide inter-operability and to
minimise compliance costs the Mayor would work with boroughs to establish
guidelines for introducing a local zone should be there be interest in doing so.
3.12.4. The original central London congestion charging zone has been identified as a
potential location for a local low emission zone due to the high concentrations of
PM10 and NO2 in the area and because it is already an established 'zone'. TfL will work
with boroughs and also other stakeholders to assess the feasibility and cost
effectiveness of potential options. (p.100)
http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Air%20Quality%20Strategy%201.pdf
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