Three quarters support legal action to clean up London's 'toxic' air

Pollution hangs over the City
Jeremy Selwyn

Londoners overwhelmingly back legal action set to be stepped up this week to force the Government to clean up “toxic” air in the city.

A YouGov poll commissioned by environmental lawyers ClientEarth found 75 per cent of adults in London support taking ministers to court to make them do more to improve air quality in the capital.

Women were slightly more hardline on this issue than men, by 78 to 73 per cent respectively.

The survey of 1,031 Londoners was carried out between March 8 and 10, before the city was hit by the latest spikes in filthy air.

“Londoners had to endure the terrible effects of pollution across the city all weekend,” said ClientEarth lawyer Alan Andrews.

“They understand the risks associated with poor air quality that the Government is failing to address and this massive show of support indicates that we are right to take ministers back to court unless they take urgent action.”

ClientEarth won a landmark victory against the Government last year when the Supreme Court ordered it to come up with fresh plans to cut nitrogen dioxide levels.

Environment Secretary Liz Truss published a new blueprint, which includes a series of low emission zones.

But the eco-lawyers believe the proposals “fall woefully short” of what was ordered by the judges in April.

They are to lodge legal papers at the High Court, by Thursday at the latest, in a bid to force the Government to draw up tougher plans to ensure air quality in London meets EU regulations before 2025.

The death toll from air pollution in the capital is estimated to be more than 9,000-a-year.

Scientists are particularly concerned that children are suffering lung damage.

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