Caroline Russell’s statement on the Mayor’s ULEZ announcement
“Londoners suffering from asthma, and other health conditions, worsened by the dirty air, will be desperately disappointed by the Mayor’s sluggish timetable for clean air that backtracks on his manifesto promise. [1]
“His original plans outlined a London-wide ULEZ for buses, coaches and lorries ‘as early as 2019’ [2] with an all-vehicle ULEZ to the north and south circular by 2020.
“It’s very disappointing to see these delayed when around 9,000 deaths in London are attributed to air pollution every year. [3]
“I have asked the Mayor what has changed that has led to this delay since the consultation, at the end of last year.
“Waiting until 2020 just isn’t good enough, the Mayor needs to show more ambition and leadership on this urgent public health issue.
“The Mayor has kicked a ULEZ for all vehicles into the long grass – leaving it to be dealt with in the next term is just too risky.
“Londoners need more action from the Mayor, he needs to deliver clean air as soon as possible. If he was really ambitious he would be looking at proposals for a London-wide ULEZ for all vehicles.”
Notes to editors
[1] From A Manifesto for all Londoners
“Consult on bringing forward the Ultra-Low Emission Zone and expanding it along major arterial routes or a wider section of central London.” http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/themes/569cb9526a21db3279000001/attachments/original/1457451016/x160668_Sadiq_Khan_Manifesto.pdf?1457451016
[2] Sadiq Khan proposes early delivery of Ultra-Low Emission Zone https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/mayor-proposes-early-delivery-of-ulez
[3] Understanding the Health Impacts of Air Pollution in London, Kings College London
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/research/divisions/aes/research/ERG/research-projects/HIAinLondonKingsReport14072015final.pdf