Action to tackle London’s toxic air could not happen sooner

Caroline Pidgeon AM, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the Mayor’s announcement today that he will launch a formal policy consultation on measures to tackle air pollution including extending the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the North Circular Road and the South Circular Road, bringing forward the introduction earlier than 2020 and implementing an extra charge on the most polluting vehicles entering central London using the Congestion Charge payment and enforcement system from 2017, said:

“Every year 10,000 Londoners face an early grave due to London’s appalling air pollution. That is 10,000 reasons why these measures to tackle air pollution are so desperately needed.

“I fully support the adoption of all the measures set out today. However, we must go even further and ensure London’s taxi fleet quickly converts to electric vehicles. This will only happen if TfL forces down the price of the electric taxis through bulk purchasing them and then selling or leasing them to taxi drivers and garages. A scrappage scheme and a network of rapid charging points are also desperately needed.”