Government’s new air pollution plan branded ‘toothless and inadequate’

A long-awaited Government plan to tackle illegal air pollution is "toothless and wholly inadequate", London Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned.

In draft plans published for consultation, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said it would consider introducing a "targeted" scrappage scheme to get older, more polluting vehicles off the roads.

DEFRA could also fund local measures ranging from removing road humps to boosting infrastructure for walking, cycling and electric vehicles.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Khan said the plans "go nowhere near addressing the public health emergency we are facing".

He said: "I’m relieved the Government has not ruled a scrappage scheme out but they have given no concrete plans.

"This is a weak plan that lacks any sense of emergency."

Ministers were ordered to draw up new clean air plans following a court challenge by environmental lawyers ClientEarth, with the High Court ruling that existing proposals to meet EU-mandated pollution limits were insufficient.

The Government attempted to delay the release of the plan until after the General Election, but was told by the High Court that there were "exceptional circumstances that make publication essential".

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said the new measures would "support businesses in building a stronger and cleaner economy".

She said: "In contrast to this common sense way forward, Jeremy Corbyn’s only solution would be to hit you in the pocket with higher taxes."

Consultation documents suggest a scrappage scheme could see 9,000 of the most polluting diesel vehicles and 6,000 old petrol vehicles scrapped and replaced by electric models.

But a scheme "would need to provide value for money" and "have to be targeted at those most in need of support", they added.

The DEFRA plan also calls on local authorities to implement "clean air zones" and develop measures "to achieve compliance within the shortest time possible".

ClientEarth, which called for charges to keep dirty diesel vehicles out of polluted towns and cities, said the Government "seems to be passing the buck to local authorities".

Chief executive James Thornton said: "While the Government says that pollution is the largest environmental risk to public health, we will still be faced with illegal air quality for years to come under these proposals."

(c) Sky News 2017: Government’s new air pollution plan branded ‘toothless and inadequate’