Hounslow Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, a founder supporter of campaign group 'Clean Air in London' and a long time campaigner for cleaner air in the capital has met European environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik to talk about air quality in the city.

The meeting was organised by Clean Air in London director Simon Birkett. It was also attended by London Assembly members including LibDem Mike Tuffrey and representatives of environmental NGOs such as Friends of the Earth, ClientEarth and Environmental Protection UK.

Commenting after the meeting, Sarah Ludford said:

"The shocking air pollution in London is a terrible health threat, causing up to 8,000 premature deaths a year in Greater London. Small children are being affected for life. This really is an emergency."

"Because London's poor air quality breaches EU rules, the UK government could soon find itself in court and paying a big fine if it does not take action. It is very disappointing that it has got to this. I urge environment secretary Caroline Spelman and Mayor of London Boris Johnson to spend that money instead on investment - such as Mike Tuffrey's proposed scrappage scheme for old diesel vehicles - to clean up London's atmosphere."

“This meeting was an important opportunity to impress on Commissioner Potocnik just how bad air pollution is in London so he ensures that European clean air laws the UK agreed to a decade ago are properly enforced in our city."

February 4, 2011