The European Commission has granted a conditional time extension for the UK Government to comply with air quality laws in London. The extension, which retrospectively covers breaches of air quality laws from 2005, lasts until June 2011.

In an unusual step, the Commission has made the extension conditional on the UK putting in place effective short-term plans to make sure that air quality limits aren’t broken again in 2011. It has also made clear that it will refer the UK to the Court of Justice of the European Union should these measures prove ineffective. This could result in multimillion pound fines against the UK.

Alan Andrews, air quality lawyer at environmental law organisation ClientEarth, said: “This time extension ends on June 11. That gives the Government exactly three months to come up with some effective measures or face the consequences."

“The Commission is clearly not convinced by the rosy picture the Government is trying to paint of London’s air quality. ClientEarth have repeatedly warned the Commission that the Government has been providing it with misleading information. The Commission’s ruling suggests that they have grown tired of this charade and want to see this appalling health problem dealt with immediately.”

4,300 people died prematurely in London in 2008 because of microscopic airborne particles (PM10) caused primarily by transport. Children, the elderly and people with heart disease, respiratory illness and asthma are particularly vulnerable to this type of pollution.

ENDS

To speak to Alan Andrews contact ClientEarth communications office
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