London mayor's plans 'could jeopardise EU targets'

The decision made by London mayor Boris Johnson to suspend the third phase of the city's emissions reduction plans could threaten air quality in the capital and result in it failing to meet EU targets and being fined, it has been reported.

Due to this, the government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking legal advice in overturning the London mayor's decision.

The guidelines were established in the belief that the congestion charge extension and the third phase of London's emission reduction plans would go ahead.

Failing to meet EU directives on air quality control could cost the taxpayer £300 million.

A spokesman for Defra stated that if the third phase is not implemented, "we would expect the mayor to put in place other measures that would deliver equal, if not greater, benefits to improve air quality".

Last November, Boris Johnson declared his opposition to an extension of London's Heathrow Airport, stating that the noise and pollution generated by the plans could violate EU environmental guidelines.