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Lib-Dem MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford launches the… AIR POLLUTION BATTLE AGAINST TAXIS? |
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London Liberal Democrat MEP,
Sarah Ludford, who campaigns for cleaner air in London,
has quizzed European environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik
on what action the London Mayor and government need to take to
clean up what she describes as its "dangerously polluted air."
The European Commission recently held off from taking the UK to court for failing to meet EU limits on health-damaging particles (PM10) in London's air, which come particularly from diesel and are said to cause a host of health problems and premature deaths. A reprieve was given on condition that the London Mayor and UK government put together an action plan by June on how they intended to tackle the problem. According to Sarah Ludford, London's air is the dirtiest in the UK. She added: "It seems Brussels doesn’t believe current plans that London has any chance of complying with the European clean air standards that the UK government signed up to. It's time to stop trying to fob off the EU with meaningless 'air quality plans'. We must really put our backs into making London a city where people can - literally - breathe freely and not die young." The Lib Dem proposals include measures such as retrofitting the most polluting vehicles with filters, speeding up the modernising of London's bus and taxi fleets and making central London a Clean Air Zone in which old diesel engines would be banned. She added: "This is not about Europe's demands, it's about whether we Londoners want to live in a city |
 MEP Sarah Ludford talks of “suspending activities” that prevent cleaner air |
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which keeps people
healthy or kills them off. Mayor Boris Johnson and Environment
Secretary Caroline Spelman must deliver urgent action, not
platitudes." EU clean air law states member countries need to make sure PM10 pollution does not exceed EU limits more than 35 days per calendar year. On April 20, 2011 in Marylebone Road, we exceeded EU limits for the 36th day this year. Prior to that date in a question to the Commission about London PM10s, Baroness Ludford asked what action it would regard as satisfactory and how long-term its perspective would be? The Commission answered that it has given us until 11 June to adjust our air quality plan and after that date, the exemption ends and PM10 daily limit value will have to be met. It added: "In view of the very narrow margin by which compliance is projected and the risk of further exceedances, the Commission has asked UK authorities to adopt further |
measures effective for
controlling or, where necessary, suspending activities which
contribute to the risk of the limit value being exceeded.
Measures falling under this category could be in relation to
motor-vehicle traffic, construction works, use of industrial
plants or products and domestic heating. They could consist of
controlling and where necessary suspending those activities
contributing to the risk of the limit value being exceeded.
Specific actions aimed at protection of sensitive population
groups, including children, may be considered…" The ongoing battle doesn’t bode well for London taxis and even taking into account the 15-year rule, there could still be future battles in an attempt to lower that total. If, of course, the Mayor’s office agreed to fund the cost of taxis becoming retrofitted with hydrogen when the technology is fully completed and available, perhaps that could help sort out the problem? The sum involved would be substantial, but far, far less than any fines to London would be. |
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Parking concerns at Waterloo Transport for London have asked Call Sign
to point out to Dial-a-Cab drivers about concerns that
have been raised regarding taxis obstructing emergency access
routes, junctions, bus stops and bus lanes in the area. |
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