Environmental group criticises air quality plan

Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth has spoken out against the London Plan, which is aimed at improving the air quality of the capital.

Earlier this week, the Examination in Public of the London Plan took place to discuss the impact of the strategy with regards to its intentions to reduce carbon emissions in the capital and limit the number of people affected by air pollution, Brentfordtw8.com reported.

Nic Ferriday, spokesman for West London Friends of the Earth, said that there are fundamental air pollution problems that the strategy has failed to address.

The website reported him as saying: "The biggest contributor to air pollution in London is road traffic. But [mayor of London] Boris Johnson has abandoned his predecessor's efforts to control road traffic."

Mr Ferriday added that the mayor's plans to get rid of an area of the congestion charge zone and remove road traffic targets are "guaranteed to increase traffic and pollution".

As well as improving air quality, the London Plan sets outs the government's intentions to reduce the effects of climate change.

These include improving waste disposal plans and boosting London's water supply.

Posted by Lauren Steadman