Environmental law firm ClientEarth is taking the Government back to the High Court in a bid to force an improvement in its strategy to clean up illegal levels of air pollution.

 

The firm is unhappy with draft plans published by Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs on 5 May, and says it received no assurance that tougher measures would be taken forward.

 

It claims that “major flaws” were found in the draft plan which “seriously jeopardise” the timetable to bring air pollution down to legal levels in the shortest time possible. A public consultation was launched alongside publication of the draft plans and ends just days after the General Election.

 

“The Government’s plans and consultation do not match what its own evidence says needs to happen,” said ClientEarth chief executive James Thornton. “If the evidence shows that taking certain measures will be necessary to tackle the public health crisis of polluted air, then the plans and associated consultation need to make that clear.”

 

Measures demanded by the lawyer include incentives to move people away from diesel vehicles towards cleaner forms of transport. Last week it launched an online consultation to help people respond to the Government’s plans.

 

“This is now in the court’s hands,” James Thornton added. “In the meantime it is important for as many people as possible to tell DEFRA that the plans don’t make sense and won’t tackle illegal air quality in our towns and cities.”

 

A DEFRA spokesman said the Government could not comment on an on going legal proceeding.

 

Campaign group Clean Air in London’s founder and director Simon Birkett said: “Hurrah for ClientEarth’s determination to hold the Government to account over its stubborn refusal to tackle diesel emissions.

 

“As many cities across Europe have already realised, banning diesel vehicles from the most polluted places is the only measure that will achieve full compliance with health and legal standards for nitrogen dioxide.”

 

♦ Several grey plaques have been installed around London to highlight the capital’s most polluted locations, including one on Marylebone Road where the average nitrogen dioxide levels are said to be double the EU legal limit. Other grey plaques feature at locations including Putney High Street, Oxford Street and Brixton Road.