Darren Johnson is writting to the EU Environment Commissioner welcoming the start of infringement proceedings against the British Government’s failure to comply with air quality limit values, designed to protect human health. Successful legal action by the EU could result in unlimited fines against the UK Government.
Darren Johnson said:
"The Government had this coming to them and it is right that the EU is getting tough. The Government’s lax attitude to the health of Londoners borders on the criminal. Substandard air quality in the capital already results in around 1000 premature deaths per year. For the past ten years the Government has failed to take proper action, resulting in Britain’s air quality sinking to illegal levels."
"The London Mayor should reverse all of his decisions which threaten to make air pollution worse. He should do a u-turn on his plans to scrap the Western Extension of the Congestion Charge; bring back the half yearly inspections for black cabs and call a halt to plans to swap bendy buses for lots more double deckers, as Transport for London research on Route 38 shows that it will increase PM10 emissions by a third."