Dear Editor,
We recently marked Clean Air Day and it provided an opportunity to consider the progress being made to tackle London’s air pollution.
Toxic air is a public health emergency. It contributes to the premature deaths of almost 10,000 Londoners every year, stunts children’s lung development and leads to other serious health problems.
We need ambition to tackle this issue head-on. City Hall has shown that leadership. We’ve seen the roll-out of the ULEZ in Central London, with expansion set for 2021. The Mayor has now revealed plans to increase the number of electric car-charging points across the capital, in the context of a Mayoral Transport Strategy that aims to restrict private car use to 20% of journeys.
Diesel scrappage has been on offer from the Mayor since April, building on our Low Emission Bus Zones and Healthy Neighbourhoods.
Actions being taken here in London will eradicate illegal pollution levels around the capital’s schools by 2025.
We’re showing the Government how it should be done, but we also now need their support. One of their first acts should be to pass a new Clean Air Act – and to allow London access to the £220m Clean Air Fund to further boost our efforts to tackle air pollution.
Yours,
Onkar Sahota AM
London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon