EU lobbied on air quality 'dodge'

3.45.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 13th Jun 2008

A delegation of council leaders will be in Strasbourg next month to lobby the European Commission on the UK government's plans to circumvent air quality targets at Heathrow. The meeting was arranged by London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford, a keen opponent of a third runway.

Transport secretary Ruth Kelly is expected to announce her decision shortly on Heathrow expansion plans which could include an extra 60,000 flights a year at the two existing runways. The additional capacity could be provided from as early as next year - ahead of the first target date for a new EU air quality directive of 2010.

Ministers have already admitted that they will be unable to comply with new NO2 limits. Rather than delay expansion they want the 2010 date put back to 2015. Any decision on whether to grant the extra time will be made by European environment commissioner Stavros Dimas.

The council leaders, who are all members of the 2M Group, will be hoping to persuade Commissioner Dimas that any relaxation of the directive would undermine its effectiveness. The delegation will include the leaders of Hillingdon, Hounslow, Richmond and Wandsworth councils.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP said:

"Any attempt by the UK government to seek postponement of compliance with air quality targets until 2015 for the specific purpose of accommodating Heathrow expansion would breach at least the spirit of the directive.

"It would also completely undermine the serious efforts being made by local authorities through other routes to improve air quality and reduce the shocking numbers of premature deaths and incapacity from respiratory illnesses."

The 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow' consultation document published at the end of last year concluded that expansion could be achieved within air quality targets. It said:

"This would be consistent with EU obligations if it is assumed that the UK would seek to use the expected provisions in the new EU air quality directive currently under negotiation. Although decisions have yet to be made, this would allow a further five years from 2010 for compliance with the NO2 limit values, subject to Commission approval of plans setting out how these would be achieved."

The 2M Group is an all-party alliance of local authorities concerned at the environmental impact of Heathrow expansion on their communities. The group, which took its name from the 2 million residents of the original 12 members , now represents 21 authorities with a combined population of 4.5 million people.

The full membership comprises the London Boroughs of Brent, Camden, Ealing, Greenwich, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Sutton, Southwark and Wandsworth, the boroughs of Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead and South Bucks District Council.

For more information visit www.2MGroup.org.uk