Mike Tuffrey challenges the Mayor to deliver Clean Air Zone for central London
May 18, 2010 6:00 PM
Originally published by London Assembly Liberal Democrats
Originally published by London Assembly Liberal Democrats
Mike Tuffrey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly environment spokesperson, is challenging the Mayor to take bold action to tackle London's poor air quality.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's Mayor's Question Time, where he will be raising the issue with the Mayor he said:
"Air pollution is one of London's biggest health issues leading to the early death of at least 4,000 Londoners each year. Poor air quality can reduce the lung size of our children and aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma as well as increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks amongst older people.
"Such a huge health impact also comes with a huge economic cost, estimated at £2 billion.
It is time for real action. That is why I am now challenging the Mayor to adopt a Clean Air Zone for central London. From 2012 we should use the Congestion Charge zone area and the cameras in place for the Western Extension to ensure that the oldest and most polluting diesel engines are simply not allowed to enter central London.
"Such a bold step will be far more effective than the rag bag of proposals, including the temporary closures of some roads to all vehicles, which the Mayor is proposing. 1
"For the health of both London's young and old we must recapture the determination and will of our forebears who tackled London's pea soup pollution in the 1950s. In time for the 2012 London Olympics we must adopt practical and ambitious policies to effectively tackle the fumes and pollution in central London."
Ends
1. The Mayor's draft air quality strategy includes proposals for short-term, unpredictable road closures, which would chaos, shifting the problem to other roads and which would be complicated to enforce. For more information see: http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/mayor/publications/environment/mayors-draft-air-quality-strategy
Notes to editors:
Clean Air Zone proposals would include a three point plan of:
1. Starting in mid 2011, six months before the scheme starts, owners of vehicles living in inner London, which do not meet Euro 4 standards, would be eligible for schemes to cover the full cost of cleaning up their vehicles.
2. The zone would cover the same area as the Congestion Charge and Western Extension zones and would use the existing hardware and IT systems (the removal of cameras from the Western Extension zone would actually cost £5 million: http://www.london.gov.uk/mqt/public/question.do?id=27803
http://www.london.gov.uk/mqt/public/question.do?id=24467
It is proposed that he oldest and most polluting diesel vehicles would be fined for driving within this zone from January 2012. A series of very limited exemptions (such as for ambulances and cars driven by Blue Badge owners) would be granted.
3. Over time, if air quality does not improve across London, consideration will be given to extending the Clean Air Zone
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