Jenny Jones warns that following the Davies Commission report could result in the Government “fighting a European court case on the impacts of increased air pollution on human health.”
A Boeing 747 taking off from London Heathrow, picture courtesy of Josh Hallett.
The European Commission has launched new proposals today which require complete enforcement of existing air pollution rules by 2020 with the five stage court action leading to fines by the end of the decade. It is also suggesting stricter legal limits for 2030. According to the Mayor’s calculations, Heathrow and its approach roads will be over the legal limit in 2020. The Davies Commission report does not mention the European legal limits.
Jenny Jones raised the threat of legal challenge and fines with the Mayor at the London Assembly meeting this morning. The Mayor said a stricter Low Emission Zone might be needed around the existing airport in order to bring it into legal compliance with existing rules.
Jenny Jones said: “The existing airport can’t comply with the current legal health limits, so how will an expanded airport cope with those limits and the even stricter ones being proposed by the Commission for 2030? Davies ignores the issue of legal compliance with air quality rules in his report, but this would scupper any expansion plans. Davies can get away with making dodgy assumptions on noise and climate change, but any Government trying to expand Heathrow could end up fighting a European court case on the impacts of increased air pollution on human health.”