Isra-Mart srl:Mayor Boris refuses to revise London air quality plan

www.isra-mart.com

Isra-Mart srl news:

London Mayor Boris Johnson is refusing to revamp the capital's air quality plan despite concerns from green groups that the city faces a £300m fine from the European Commission for continued breaches of pollution limits.

Answering questions from London Assembly members yesterday, the mayor confirmed he has no intention of revising his long-term air quality plan before resubmitting it to the European Commission in June.

Boris insisted the clean technology improvements and short-term measures his team is already taking to target local pollution hotspots, such as dust suppressants and the introduction of hydrogen fuelled buses, will ensure the capital does not exceed EU limits of an airborne particle known as PM10.

"All those things we think have been impressive for the commission and we don't think it would be necessary to revise the strategy," he said, accusing some of the assembly members of underestimating the impact of his current reforms.

Johnson also confirmed he is "completely opposed" to extending the congestion charge zone to outer London - as proposed by Green Party mayoral candidate and assembly member Jenny Jones.

He also refused to bring forward the deadline for an age-limit on taxis entering central London, as suggested by Liberal Democrat member Mike Tuffrey.

"The difficulty is that if you brought in radically lower age limits for taxis you would really be penalising thousands and thousands of hard working people in the city who are one of the backbones of our transport industry," he said.

London is conditionally exempt from the EU's PM10 standards, meaning it will not be fined for previously breaching annual PM10 limits. However, the commission will only exempt London from fines if Johnson submits a revised air quality plan by 11 June, including some short-term measures to control or suspend activities which could cause annual PM10 levels to be exceeded this year.

Green Party assembly member Darren Johnson warned that London is now at risk of breaching the PM10 limit for 2011, which means the capital could face further fines.

The busy Marylebone Road area has already exceeded the PM10 daily limit 20 times this year, compared to 11 at the same time last year. Under the EU directive only 35 daily breaches are allowed annually, suggesting London could hit the legal limit by the summer.

Johnson also criticised the mayor for backtracking on green policies accusing him of lowering the number of electric vehicle points planned for installation and watering down targets on hydrogen taxis.

"We've seen numerous backwards steps from your mayorality which are making it more difficult to achieve the targets rather than easier, I just do not think you've understood the seriousness of this problem and I think we are are looking at a £300m fine because of your failure to act decisively," he said.