The European Commission has turned down the Government’s request for more time to reduce particulate air pollution (PM10) in Greater London.
The Government and the mayor now have four months to devise a more convincing plan for addressing the PM10 problem, or face fines of around £300m, according to London Assembly Green Party member, Darren Johnson.
Chief executive of Environmental Protection UK, Phillip Mulligan, said: ‘The Government gambled that the commission would accept an essentially “do nothing” plan. It has now lost this gamble and will have to come up with a strategy for getting to grips with London’s air pollution problems.’
Darren Johnson said there were three consequences of the EC’s decision. ‘First, the Government must immediately decide whether it will overrule the mayor over the proposed delay in taking action against polluting white vans in London, and the abolition of the western extension of the congestion.
‘Second, the mayor must rewrite his draft air quality strategy to bring forward traffic-free days to close major roads during bad air-pollution periods, and to introduce stricter rules on vehicle emissions in the central London pollution hotspots.
‘Third, the Government must help fill the £70m-£90m funding gap in the mayor’s current plans to reduce air pollution.’ But a spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it was confident London would meet the limit values by 2011.
‘Air quality in the UK has improved, and the commission has recognised the time extension in seven other parts of the country is no longer required as they met the PM10 limits in 2008,’ he said.
Responding, Mr Johnson told Surveyor: ‘Well, that means we’re all in trouble and the fines will probably be piled on to London council taxpayers. The Government just doesn’t get it.’ The mayor’s office refused to comment
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
