Kingston roads exceed EU permitted pollution levels (From Surrey Comet)

Kingston roads exceed EU permitted pollution levels

12:05pm Thursday 5th October 2006 in

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Pollution levels of some of the borough's major roads, including the A3 are breaking limits set by the European Parliament and could be reported to the European Commission.

According to the latest council statistics, the current European Union limit for invisible pollutant PM10 particles was breached on the A307, at Fairfield, on the A308, at London Road, on the A3, at the Tolworth Junction, and on the A243 Hook Road.

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP said: "If there is an infringement of an EU directive, such as air pollution limits, it is reported for the European Commission in Brussels to investigate.

If it finds the UK is breaching EU limits, and the UK Government doesn't carry out an effective plan of action to alleviate the problem, the Commission can hand out a series of fines and sanctions." She added: "The air quality situation is abysmal. I would be delighted to press the European Commission to investigate this breach of EU law. We need improvement."

“The air quality situation is abysmal. I would be delighted to press the European Commission to investigate this breach of EU law. We need improvement.”

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP

The fine PM10 particles can cause an increase in respiratory diseases, such as asthma and bronchitis. It has also been estimated that high levels of some pollutant particles can reduce life expectancy by eight months.

The principal source of the particles in the borough is from road vehicle exhaust emissions on major roads, such as the A3.

John Bowis, MEP for Greater London, who lives in New Malden, said: "That is why we need to tackle pollution at source in relation to cars and heavy vehicles."

However, Baroness Ludford believes Kingston Council is facing an uphill task to reduce air pollution around the major roads in the borough.

"It is not easy for local councils to affect change, especially around hotspots such as the A3, and essentially the UK Government is ultimately responsible," she said.

The European Parliament voted in September to establish more ambitious targets for air quality and pollution limits but changes will not come into force until at least 2010. It has reduced the maximum permissible average concentration levels for PM10 particles, but increased the number of days per year when this limit can be exceeded.