“Rather than solving the problem the Mayor seems intent on making the problem worse” says Green Assembly Member Baroness Jenny Jones as DEFRA warns of ‘high levels’ of pollution spreading across England.
Jenny’s response to DEFRA’s warning comes on the same day the London Green Party launches #smogselfie. Photograph courtesy of Clare Phipps.
Responding to DEFRA’s warning that a mix of local and European emission and dust from the Sahara is resulting in ‘high levels’ of pollution spreading across England, London Assembly Member Jenny Jones has called on the Mayor of London to “think big” to help Londoners avoid the serious health risks associated with the air pollution in the capital.
Jenny commented:
“The Mayor is sitting idly by while millions of Londoners are exposed to pollution that can permanently damage their health.
He is telling the vulnerable to avoid outdoors exercise, but does virtually nothing about the cars and lorries that cause the pollution. The Mayor stripped out the type of emergency measures that could have restricted traffic during periods of smog from his air quality strategy. These could include restriction on the worst polluting vehicles and on non-essential vehicle journeys”
“Rather than solving the problem the Mayor seems intent on making the problems worse, backing new road building schemes and increased airport capacity. We need firm action to deliver cleaner vehicles as well as reduce the overall level of traffic on our roads.”