Enfield Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, a founder supporter of campaign group 'Clean

Air in London' and a long time campaigner for cleaner air in the capital

has met European environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik to talk about

air quality in the city.The meeting was organised by Clean Air in

London director Simon Birkett. It was also attended by London Assembly

members including LibDem Mike Tuffrey and representatives of

environmental NGOs such as Friends of the Earth, ClientEarth and

Environmental Protection UK.

 

Commenting after the meeting, Ludford said: "The shocking air pollution in London is a

terrible health threat, causing up to 8,000 premature deaths a year in

Greater London. Small children are being affected for life. This really

is an emergency."

 "Because London's poor air quality breaches EU rules, the UK

government could soon find itself in court and paying a big fine if it

does not take action. It is very disappointing that it has got to this. I

urge environment secretary Caroline Spelman and Mayor of London Boris

Johnson to spend that money instead on investment - such as Mike

Tuffrey's proposed scrappage scheme for old diesel vehicles - to clean

up London's atmosphere."

 “This meeting was an important opportunity to impress on

Commissioner Potocnik just how bad air pollution is in London so he

ensures that European clean air laws the UK agreed to a decade ago are

properly enforced in our city."