Court forces Government to act now on pollution

I WELCOME the High Court’s decision to throw out the Government’s feeble attempt to delay publishing proper plans to tackle our toxic air pollution until after the election [Online, April 27].

New research shows just how lethal vehicle emissions are: pollution nanoparticles enter directly into the bloodstream from the lungs and these contribute to the deaths of more than 9,000 Londoners a year.

Most of our air pollution comes from diesel vehicles and the Government needs to get going with a diesel scrappage scheme, as the Mayor has been pushing for.

The Government urgently needs to produce a new Clean Air Act that should give the Mayor additional powers to act decisively for Londoners and protect our health. Andrea Leadsom MP in the House of Commons about delaying Defra’s application of its plan to tackle nitrogen dioxide, something many — including the EU — had been waiting several years for.

Ministers are now also accused of bullying judges over delaying curbs on toxic air [April 26]. So we have the Government delaying putting a plan into place despite legal action being taken against it twice before. It was meant to have been lodged with the Supreme Court on Monday but the Government appealed for a postponement until after the election, when these plans should have been in place in 2010.

Our knowledge of the adverse impact air pollution has on our lives — particularly on the young, old and vulnerable — has increased substantially and a seven-year delay in responding to the requirements of having a NO2 plan is not good enough.

The Government’s abandonment of its responsibilities and lack of action has ensured it will become a major issue in the general election.

IT IS excellent news that the Government must now release its air pollution plans before the general election in June.

It would be better still, however, to have an explanation as to why, at the final Department for Transport meeting last Friday, assurances were given that environmental issues relating to a third Heathrow runway were well in hand when, at the same time, Defra was at the High Court seeking to delay publication of this important document.

It is also essential for all parties to note that there will be little time for responders to the current Airports Expansion consultation to absorb the details of the new publication before the deadline for comments on May 25.