The air we breathe
As a west London resident and a parent the most important issue for me, going into the General Election isn’t Brexit, the economy, NHS, security, housing or even education; it is the quality of air that my children breathe. As has been highlighted on here on many occasions air quality where we live is very poor. So I thought I would have a look at the manifestos of three main political parties to see what they have to say on the subject. I’m guessing that the Green Party manifesto has much to say but I didn’t read it as they aren’t standing in my constituency. Below is my understanding from what I have read, and I am not a member of any political party or organisation:• Conservative manifesto has a single sentence on air pollution pledging unspecified “action against poor air quality in urban areas”. No specific commitments are made.• Labour manifesto: pledges to introduce “a new clean air act to deal with the Conservative legacy of illegal air quality.” The manifesto also promises to move freight from lorries to rail on a nationalised rail network to “leave our roads freer of traffic and our air cleaner.” It will “retrofit thousands of diesel buses in areas with the most severe air quality problems” and oversee the creation of a national network of low emission zones.• Liberal Democrat manifesto promises a ban on diesel car and small van sales by 2025, a diesel scrappage scheme and “ultra-low emission zones” in ten towns and cities in addition to the one already planned in London. Electric cars will be encouraged via vehicle tax reform and “universal charging points”.Before you cast your vote on Thursday please consider the air that you and your loved ones breathe in.
Patrick Green ● 3249d1 Comments