"A perverse and disturbing decision" - Mike Tuffrey criticises Mayor's suspension of new air quality standards

4.00.00pm GMT Tue 3rd Feb 2009

Mike Tuffrey AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly group, commenting on the Mayor's decision today to suspend the third phase of the London's Low Emission Zone said:

"This is a perverse and very disturbing decision, just a week after legal proceedings were started to address London's poor air quality.

"Each year 1,000 Londoners die early due to the capital's pollution - that is fives times the number of people who are killed on London's roads."

"The Mayor's claim to have alternative policies to improve London's air quality rings hollow as he is not stating what level of improvement he actually hopes to achieve.

"I recognise the concerns of small businesses, but instead of dropping new air quality standards we should be providing practical help to enable them to make the changes at minimum cost. We could also be doing far more to reduce the need for car travel in outer London, especially if the Mayor delivered on his election promises on new orbital bus routes.

"Only two weeks ago David Cameron was stating that 'we can't afford not to go green' as a successful economy and clean environment ultimately go hand in hand. Clearly Boris Johnson has still not got this message."