Letters to the editor: Cleaning up London’s air is urgent quicker

 
Capital issue: London has a major air pollution problem (Picture: Jeremy Selwyn)
30 April 2015
WEST END FINAL

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Whatever the Supreme Court rules on the Government’s failure to meet EU air quality standards, it is clear that politicians of all hues have woefully failed to tackle this issue.

When there are 7,500 premature deaths linked to toxic air in London every year it is clear that we need immediate action. Legislation alone will not suffice.

We must start by introducing risk-reducing measures, such as clean-air zones, around critical institutions including schools and hospitals to help protect Londoners most in danger. Second, the introduction of low emission zones must be made a national infrastructure priority.

The Government may be able to breathe a collective sigh of relief but that will sadly not be the case for Londoners — toxic air is perhaps the greatest stain on London’s reputation as the world’s foremost city.
Andy Deacon, managing partner, Global Action Plan

Rather than trying to get to grips with the problem of air pollution, the Government preferred to pursue costly court proceedings. Its inaction has seen thousands more people die prematurely from illnesses related to poor air quality.

While official health advice is always welcome, it was never a long-term solution for the Government to advise at-risk groups to just stay inside.

Legislating to get the most polluting diesel vehicles away from the middle of London is the action that should be taken. After a five-year legal fight, the Government must now do something because we have a right to expect clean air in the capital.
Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London

The Supreme Court’s judgment is the best possible news for Londoners and others. The Mayor’s recently published Air Pollution Roadmap indicates the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) could achieve compliance with permitted nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in London by 2020. But the problem would still be inner London, and the obvious solution is to expand the ULEZ.

The Supreme Court did not mince its words, emphasising its “obligation to act urgently”. But if the new Government fails to produce a convincing plan by the end of the year we’ll need Client Earth to hold it to account again.
Simon Birkett, founder and director, Clean Air in London

London has a major air pollution problem and the main cause is emissions from road vehicles. As a local authority we are doing everything we can to fight back, including banning idling engines and introducing a 20mph speed limit.

But much more needs to be done to limit diesel, which is having a serious impact on air quality and public health.
John Tomlinson, environment committee deputy chairman, City of London

Miliband was right to talk to Brand

Your front page reported that Labour leader Ed Miliband visited the home of Russell Brand [April 28]. By reading this, I not only discovered Brand’s YouTube channel, The Trews, but also that the Prime Minister David Cameron called it a “joke”.

The Trews has more than a million viewers, and if such a huge number could be persuaded to vote, this would be a great credit to Miliband.

I think the more disenchanted youths fail to vote either as a result of Mr Brand’s persuasion or otherwise, the more the political status quo will be sustained.

Voter turnout has been too low and any effort to reach out to improve this should not be labelled as a joke.
Ebenehi Godwin Omale

Those who condemn Russell Brand for urging young people not to vote should consider the broader picture. Our electoral system is in urgent need of reform — it is unfair, undemocratic and riddled with anomolies. Our turnout is the lowest of any EU country and if enough people abstain it sends the message that we are fed up with the present system.
Derrick Arnott

Rent caps would be good for tenants

The arguments against rent caps ignore all the hard evidence. For most of the 20th century the UK had quite strict rent controls and better tenant protection. Yes, the result was that rented accommodation was of lower quality but landlords were no longer outbidding owner-occupiers — keeping a lid on house price inflation.

The most worrying statistic is that among under-35s, owner-occupation levels have fallen from two-thirds to one-third over the past 10 years. So reintroducing strict rent caps is a core part of the Young People’s Party’s housing and economic policies.

It is not just about protecting tenants — to borrow some Tory slogans, it is about putting money back into people’s pockets and having a property-owning democracy.
Mark Wadsworth, Young People’s Party candidate for Epping Forest

Autism is an issue that needs tackling

I would very much like to place on record Lee Scott MP’s contribution to helping autistic people, not only in the London Borough of Redbridge but across the UK. He has represented families with autism without fear or favour and from all political persuasions.

There is still a great need for support, particularly for people in the 18-25 age range. Young people with autism need to be given chances and equal access to employment. Small schemes alone are not enough given that there are hundreds of thousands of people with autism in the UK.

This is an issue that has been ignored in the hustings. Parents, carers and people with autism are voters too, their voices need to be heard in this general election.
Ivan Corea

SNP only wants to help the Scots

Those of us who live south of the border must not be fooled into thinking the SNP wants to waste time extending its policies beyond its home nation [Letters, April 28]. Why would they care about improving England when they want to cobble up another referendum as soon as possible?
Craig Alexander

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