Air
pollution in the UK results in the premature deaths of at least 29,000 people a
year. Air pollution hits the most vulnerable and children hardest. The World
Health Organisation warns that air pollution is carcinogenic; it’s the primary
environmental cause of cancer.
Because
of the coalition government’s failure to act, the date at which the UK is
expected to achieve compliance with legal air quality limits was revised from
2020 to 2030 last year.
Action
on air pollution has collapsed across the country. There has been no
improvement in the UK’s air quality over the last year and almost 90% of the
country now exceeds legal air pollution limits. It is a particular
concern in South Yorkshire and especially in my constituency where pollution
levels in the areas around the M1 experience extremely poor air quality
standards.
Bizarrely,
last year, the Conservative Secretary of State for the Environment wrote to
every local authority where air pollution exceeded legal limits to explain that
“ultimate legal responsibility for air pollution lay with local authorities
and that any fines levied on the Government would be passed on to them.”
Now,
I’m fully in favour of ensuring that local councils are taking the appropriate
action to cut air pollution. But, suggesting that Sheffield and Rotherham
Councils should pay fines because the UK government wouldn’t act to cut air
pollution from the M1 was clearly ridiculous.
In
April, the Supreme Court ruled against the Secretary of State and stating that:
“The new government should be left in no doubt as to the need for immediate
action, which is achieved by an order that new plans must be delivered to the
European Commission not later than 31 December 2015.”
The
Government has to reverse its quite irresponsible approach to air pollution and
to ensure local people have cleaner air in the shortest time possible.
Last
year, it was clear that the Department of Transport just wanted to press ahead
with the expansion of the M1 through South Yorkshire and to pay little
attention to the consequent air pollution problems. That cannot continue.
