Government To End Local Authority Air Quality Monitoring Responsibility?

With the issue of air quality being a major concern for the EU and, following a report by the World Health organisation (WHO) into the standards used by the UK and other EU countries, news that the Government is now wishing to end the responsibility that local authorities have for m monitoring air quality; is nothing less than blatant dismissal of the responsibility for the health of the UK’s population.

In July, this website reported on the findings by the World Health organisation (WHO) that pollution indicators used by the UK and EU are not sufficiently stringent to protect the population from air-borne carcinogens and respiratory illness and disease caused mainly by road traffic emissions.

To quote from the enws item:

"However, in this European Year Of Air, an alarming World Health Organisation (WHO) report released last month, shows that air pollution causes death, serious illness and hospital admissions even at levels well below current EU limits!"

With the generally accepted evidence that increasing levels of air pollution causes cancer, respiratory diseases and illnesses, and shortens life expectancy and the overall quality of life of populations across the world; the EU is currently reviewing its Air Quality standards and policies.

However, in the UK, Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is cutting the budget for air quality monitoring and it is feared that local air pollution monitoring sites across the country could soon permanently close and leave people unable to protect themselves.

Neil Parry, of the East End Quality of Life Initiative and a leading Sheffield environmental campaigner has criticised Government plans which he believes could end air quality monitoring by local councils, whilst the lobbying organisation, 38 Degrees, has now taken up the challenge of highlighting this issue to the public; in the attempt to galvanise public opinion into forcing a change of direction from a Government that puts profit and costs before the health of its citizens.

Mr Parry, quoted in the Daily Star newspaper in August said:

“The Government is currently consulting on proposals that could end local authority air quality monitoring.

Its motivation is saving money under the ‘red tape’ agenda. Local Air Quality Management is seen as red tape with hardly any reference to the public health benefits. Yet air pollution is the biggest public health risk after smoking.

In Sheffield, air pollution leads to around 500 deaths per year, and exacerbates the ill health of vulnerable people with cardio vascular and respiratory conditions. The health costs in Sheffield are £160 million.”

He added: “Local authority monitoring is essential for accountability, to demonstrate compliance with health targets and to provide an assessment of actions to improve air quality.”

A spokesman for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is quoted as saying: “We are reviewing the role and responsibilities of local authorities to help ensure action is taken by those with relevant powers.”

DEFRA reportedly says it needs to change to help the UK meet EU air quality standards and that there is too much ‘red-tape’ involved!

But, the Waltham Forest and Redbridge Green Party says the changes are simply to cut funding and that a logical consequence of this would be pollution stations closing.

Local Green Party spokeswoman Diana Korchien told The Guardian newspaper:

“The responsibility of delivering information on local pollution would no longer exist. It’s a logical consequence then that there wouldn’t be any money spent on it and the monitoring stations would close. If we don’t have any in our borough we won’t be able to monitor and inform citizens who can take steps to protect themselves.”

Source: The Guardian / The Daily Star / WHO / 38 Degrees / DEFRA / Unionsafety

You can sign the 38 Degrees petition against the ending of local authority responsibility for the monitoring of air quality here

See also: WHO Report Shows Stronger Air Quality Standards Essential To Protect Health

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