Jenny Jones has written to the London Mayor urging him to issue a smog alert warning if the current pollution episode carries over into the Royal Wedding next week as predicted in official weather forecasts.
DEFRA issue occassional smog alerts. Londoners and visitors can sign up to Airtext, which sends out alerts when pollution levels are moderate or high. The Mayor’s own health impact study estimated that the equivalent of 4267 deaths in 2008 were attributable to long term air pollution.
Provisional figures for the DEFRA air pollution monitoring site at Marylebone Road show that it has now reached 35 bad air days, where it exceeds the European legal limits.
Jenny Jones said: "We have the prospect of hundreds of thousands of visitors flocking to central London, to stand around all day in one of the most beautiful, but polluted cities in Europe. The Mayor should be making people aware of what they are breathing in and the risks to their health. It is important information for people to know if they suffer from a pre-existing respiratory problem. London is currently experiencing an air pollution episode and this is likely to carry through to the Royal Wedding.
"The government have issued smog alerts on occasions; such as bonfire night and I feel that the London Mayor should step forward to help protect the health of vulnerable Londoners and those visiting the capital.
"The public should also be made aware that the Government’s definition of moderate air pollution is deceptive as it can still be above the Europe legal limits. People should use the Airtext service to get the information straight to their phone and this is what I have asked the Mayor to advertise on travel sights and with tourist information."