More attention 'should be given to London's poor air quality'

There should be more attention given to the poor air quality in London, it has been suggested.

In an article for the Guardian, Mike Tuffrey stated that Boris Johnson is not showing enough urgency to address the issue of pollution in the capital.

He said: "Poor air quality is one of the biggest public health issues facing the UK, with the problem most severe in central London due to high levels of traffic."

According to the mayor's air quality strategy, more than 4,300 deaths are caused by poor air quality in the city every year.

It also reported that the financial impact of London's poor environment is significant, with expenses for premature deaths in the capital alone reaching £2 billion annually.

Mr Tuffrey added that the Commons environmental audit committee had predicted that poor air quality was responsible for as many as 50,000 deaths across the UK.

Earlier this month, the European Commission told the government that if it does not address breaches in the capital's air quality control, it could face a fine of £300 million.

Posted by Claire Manning.