EU Lobbied Over Kelly’s "Air Quality Dodge"
Delegation of council leaders to visit Strasbourg to lobby the European Commission
Transport secretary Ruth Kelly is expected to announce her decision shortly on Heathrow expansion plans which could include an extra 60,000 flights a year at the two existing runways.
The additional capacity could be provided from as early as next year – ahead of the first target date for a new EU air quality directive of 2010.
Ministers have already admitted that they will be unable to comply with new NO2 limits. Rather than delay expansion they want the 2010 date put back to 2015.
Any decision on whether to grant the extra time will be made by European environment commissioner Stavros Dimas.
The council leaders, who are all members of the 2M Group, will be hoping to persuade Commissioner Dimas that any relaxation of the directive would undermine its effectiveness.
Wandsworth Council leader Edward Lister, speaking on behalf of the group, said: "The Government has said all along that if it can't meet the new EU air quality targets then expansion cannot go ahead. Now they are trying to move the goalposts. We will be telling Commissioner Dimas just what UK ministers are up to.
"The directive gives countries time to make steady progress in improving air quality. It should not give them licence to make the pollution worse before they even start working towards these targets.
"The Government is trying to wriggle out of its air quality commitments so it can wave through yet another expansion at Heathrow. We will urge the commissioner to defend the integrity of the new directive against this cynical dodge. It would send out the wrong signal to the rest of Europe to allow one country such a crucial exemption so early in the new directive's life."
The delegation will include the leaders of Hillingdon, Hounslow, Richmond and Wandsworth councils and three MEPs – Sarah Ludford, John Bowis and Caroline Lucas.
Sarah Ludford added, "Any attempt by the UK government to seek postponement of compliance with air quality targets until 2015 for the specific purpose of accommodating Heathrow expansion would breach at least the spirit of the directive. It would also completely undermine the serious efforts being made by local authorities through other routes to improve air quality and reduce the shocking numbers of premature deaths and incapacity from respiratory illnesses."
The 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow' consultation document published at the end of last year concluded that expansion could be achieved within air quality targets. It said:
“This would be consistent with EU obligations if it is assumed that the UK would seek to use the expected provisions in the new EU air quality directive currently under negotiation. Although decisions have yet to be made, this would allow a further five years from 2010 for compliance with the NO2 limit values, subject to Commission approval of plans setting out how these would be achieved.”
June 13, 2008