The European Commission (EC) has started to reject applications for time extensions to countries meeting the legal limits for air pollution. Ten countries, including the UK, failed to reduce air pollution in time to meet the 2005 deadline for particulate (PM10) emissions and have asked for an extension to the last possible date allowed under European Law, which is June 2011. However, the EC has only given extensions to 19 of the 94 zones in the nine countries which it has so far looked at. In the remaining zones the Commission considered that the conditions have not been met. One of the reasons for rejection stated in the letter is (1):
"…because the measures outlined in the air quality plans submitted to the Commission do not demonstrate that the standards will be met at the expiry of the exemption period."
Darren Johnson said:
"I welcome the Commission’s firm stand in defence of the health of people across Europe and I hope it will be equally tough in defence of the health of Londoners. An estimated three thousand people could be dying prematurely in London every year as a result of bad air.
"Londoners have suffered the consequences of over a decade of false promises and there are major doubts about whether the plans drawn up by the UK Government and the Mayor of London, are going to reduce emissions in time for mid 2011. Evidence presented to the London Assembly indicated that the UK could be facing fines of up to three hundred million pounds if it fails to reduce emissions. Londoners would be much better off if all that money was used now, to reduce traffic and replace the most polluting vans and taxis."
Editors Notes