Morning:
8°c
Boris Johnson urged to use C-charge cameras to catch polluting vehicles
Pippa Crerar, City Hall Editor25 May 2010
Boris Johnson was today challenged to improve the lives of millions of Londoners by bringing in a clean air zone in central London.
The Mayor has so far refused to back the plan to tackle air pollution which leads to more than 4,300 premature deaths in the capital every year.
Under the Liberal Democrat proposal the oldest, most polluting diesel vehicles would be banned from the city centre where pollution is worst.
Motorists would be offered financial help to upgrade these vehicles and congestion charge cameras would enforce the ban before the 2012 Olympics.
Mr Johnson has described the idea as “extremely interesting” but suggested it would be too expensive and that his own plans would work better.
His Air Quality Strategy, launched in March, includes measures such as suddenly closing roads when air quality is especially poor. Pollution hotspots include Marylebone Road, Euston Road, Marble Arch and Tower Hill.
The Mayor is also under pressure to publish the results of a study into the health effects of pollution in London.
Previous requests under Freedom of Information laws have been refused.
The Lib-Dems say a planned approach to air quality would be better than the Mayor's “rag bag of proposals”.
Assembly member Mike Tuffrey said: “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. That is why I am now challenging the Mayor to adopt a clean air zone for central London.”
Simon Birkett, of the Campaign for Clean Air in London, said: “This radical and well thought-through proposal is just what London needs… It contrasts starkly with the wishful thinking in the Mayor's draft Air Quality Strategy.”
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: “The Mayor's air quality strategy sets out detailed and comprehensive proposals on how London can meet and exceed European legal limits.”
Reader views (5)
Aaah the usual mindless unevidenced ranting from the anti Boris and anti car fanatics.
- Matt, London, UK, 11/06/2010 14:40
Report abuse
Some of these cameras were paid for by the previous government to monitor the Western Zone so given the dire state of government funding if Boris scraps the Western Zone then the present government should ask for its money back!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 25/05/2010 19:09
Report abuse
So Boris wants cleaner air in London, so why is he scraping the Western CC zone.
- Glen, Lambeth, 25/05/2010 15:32
Report abuse
Yeah Steve, clearly if a Quango has commissioned a piece of research into the number of deaths caused by pollution, it must be wrong. And the man in the pub with his uninformed rantings must be correct, since he's not a politician.....
- Rich, London, 25/05/2010 11:28
Report abuse
4,300 premature deaths? I always thought it was 6,436, but my mate Fred had worked out that it was 3,783.
(My mum Ivy thought it was only 24, but she must be wrong because that would mean its not a problem, and everyone knows it must be a problem; after all the taxpayer funded politicians and Quangos say it is. And they're always right.)
- Steve E, London, UK, 25/05/2010 11:16
Report abuse
