Mayor Sadiq Khan slams Government's air pollution plan as 'woefully inadequate'

He called toxic air a 'public health emergency'
Toxic air: The Government published their draft air pollution plan on Friday.
Reuters

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has slammed the government’s air pollution plan as “woefully inadequate”, calling toxic air a public health emergency.

Writing in the Times newspaper, the Mayor of London responded to the Government’s long-awaited draft air quality plan which was published on Friday.

Mr Khan called the problem of toxic air “a matter of life and death” as he cited statistics that over 40,000 people die early every year across the country because of air pollution.

In the article, published on Saturday, the capital’s mayor said: “The clean air proposals finally put forward by the government yesterday are woefully inadequate.

“They would still leave Britain with illegally polluted and unsafe air for at least another decade.”

Air pollution in London is one of the capital's top health risks
Jeremy Selwyn

He added: “Despite this, the government is simply unwilling to take the bold action required to fix it.”

Yesterday’s report includes suggestions of a possible targeted diesel scrappage scheme, reducing speed limits on motorways to 60mph and getting rid of speed humps to cut nitrogen dioxide levels.

It also indicated that taxation could be used to encourage less people to drive diesel.

The government was ordered to publish their draft air pollution plan despite attempts to delay publication until after the election.

In Mr Khan’s piece in the newspaper, he goes onto say: “It's not all completely bad. There is a glimmer of good news.”

“I welcome that the government has agreed to consult on introducing a targeted diesel scrappage fund, as I have modelled, to help drivers who bought diesel vehicles in good faith.

“However, the government has failed to give a firm commitment and, even if it goes ahead, this alone would go nowhere near fixing the problem.

City Hall analysis shows that the proposals still mean air quality will be at illegal levels until at least 2026.”

He said: “We need a legally enforceable right to clean air for everybody and new powers to regulate all emissions sources, including construction and river vessels.

“We also need changes to vehicle excise duty to encourage people to buy the greenest cars.

“None of this featured in the government's plan and I would not be surprised to see ministers dragged back to court and ordered to produce a new plan that actually meets the challenges we are facing.”

Judges have already twice ordered the Government to improve its plans to cut levels of toxic gas nitrogen dioxide.

Theresa May has pledged to reduce air pollution but is reluctant to punish motorists with diesel cars, after drivers were encouraged to buy diesel cars in the early 2000s.

Mayor Mr Khan is already set to introduce a £10-a-day T-charge for the most polluting vehicles driving into central London. It will begin in October.

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