Archived press release

Government needs new policies for 'belching monsters'

21 November 1994

Welcoming the Transport Committee report on Air Pollution in London [1], launched today, ahead of tomorrow's Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) report, Fiona Weir, Friends of the Earth's Air Pollution Campaigner said:

"Overwhelming pressure is building for a sea-change in Government transport policy."

"Only days after Transport Secretary Mawhinney promised random spot checks of car fumes from 'belching monsters', the Committee wants the Government to do more to cut air pollution in London.

Tighter emission controls and tough new policies to cut car use are both needed, if the people who live and work in London are to breathe clean air."

Friends of the Earth welcomes the endorsement by the Committee of much of its evidence. Many of the thirty five recommendations have been the subject of Friends of the Earth campaigns, including:

- AIR QUALITY MONITORING (xix)

The European Commission is taking legal action against the UK Government as a result of Friends of the Earth's complaint that there is too little monitoring in the UK, many of the sites are badly located and underestimate pollution levels. The Committee has endorsed FoE's view that the UK lags behind the rest of the EU and recommends the addition of a further fifteen Government monitoring sites for London.

- DIRTY BUS ENGINES (xiv-xv)

The Transport Committee has called upon Government to consider fiscal means of encouraging the refurbishment of larger diesel vehicles. Friends of the Earth has been campaigning for increased capital allowances to enable

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PAGE 2 FRIENDS OF THE EARTH operators of London's ageing bus fleet to fit new, less polluting engines.

- BENZENE EMISSIONS AND CANCER (x-xiii)

Friends of the Earth monitoring surveys have recorded high levels of benzene, particularly near petrol pumps. Proposed EU regulations to cut emissions of benzene during refuelling have met with considerable oil industry opposition. FoE welcomes the Transport Committee's support for petrol pump controls, but emphasises that only regulation will secure their introduction.

- THE PUBLIC RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT AIR POLLUTION (xxxi- xxxiv)

Friends of the Earth has repeatedly exposed misleading Department of the Environment air quality bulletins. The Government continues to describe air quality as "good" at times when ozone levels exceed World Health Organisation guidelines.

While critical of the Government's provision of advice to the public, the Transport Committee fails to address the need for powers to restrain car use during severe pollution incidents.

- EXPOSURE OF PEDESTRIANS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN (v para 122)

Responding to evidence from Friends of the Earth monitoring surveys about the high levels of kerbside pollution, and the obvious implications for the health of children, in particular, the Commitee recommends "that Government promote further research into this phenomenon" and that "it be taken into account in planning policy guidance ... so as to ensure that, for example, town centre developments are designed with a view to separating cars from pedestrians..."

- OVERALL CONCLUSIONS

The Transport Committee has recognised the limitations of technological improvements without measures to reduce traffic levels, stating:

"We have, however come increasingly to the view as the enquiry has progressed that even a comprehensive and rigorous technology-based approach to reducing

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PAGE 3 FRIENDS OF THE EARTH emissions, though necessary, will not be enough." [Para 173]

The Committee also recognises the need for a regulatory framework and for targets and timetables:

"Exhortation alone will not be sufficient. Legislation is therefore needed on a number of different issues... the most sensible approach is to set targets for improvements in air quality.." [Para 176]

The Committee also recognises the need for some expenditure:

"Implementing our recommendations will give rise to some unavoidable additional public expenditure. But this is the necessary price for enabling those who live and work in London to breathe cleaner air." [Para 178]

The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution is expected to make similar recommendations in its report, to be published tomorrow.

NOTES TO EDITORS

[1] House of Commons Transport Committee, Sixth Report, Transport-Related Air Pollution in London, Volume One, 25 October 1994

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