"Come clean, Boris" says air quality campaigner Bridget (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

"Come clean, Boris" says air quality campaigner Bridget

October 5, 2009 9:06 AM

Jo Shaw and Bridget Fox campaigning for action on air pollution

Liberal Democrats: demanding action on air quality

Liberal Democrat campaigners are calling on London Mayor Boris Johnson to 'come clean' over the future of London's Low Emission Zone.

Earlier this year the Mayor announced the suspension of phase 3 of the Low Emission Zone. Now there is speculation he will back down and reinstate the plan during this week's Conservative party conference.

Bridget Fox, the Liberal Democrat shadow MP for Islington South & Finsbury (Boris Johnson's home area) says:

"We need to know the truth. Islington residents face choking fumes every day.

"Routes like Pentonville Road and Old Street have some of the highest levels of dangerous air pollution in the country. A recent report from the European Environment Agency said that nearly 3000 people in London die early each year due to these dangerous airborne particles.

"Boris must make a firm commitment to go ahead with the Zone: come clean on your plans, clean up your act, and clean up our air."

Bridget Fox, Mike Tuffrey and campaigners protesting about poor air quality at Old Street, EC1

Bridget Fox and Mike Tuffrey: demanding cleaner air for Londoners

Mike Tuffrey, who leads Liberal Democrat Assembly Group, said the Mayor "should not be claiming credit for something that should never have been cancelled in the first place."

Mike Tuffrey, who joined Bridget Fox to highlight air quality problems at Old Street earlier this year, added: "With 3,000 Londoners dying prematurely every year due to poor air quality, the Mayor needs to do much more to improve health in the run up to the Olympics."