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London Mayor reiterates call for scrappage scheme as capital put on air quality alert

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has issued an air quality alert in London, warning of high levels of pollution.

London

Messages sent out under the airTEXT service give Londoners advice on air quality concerns.

Following the launch of air quality alerts in the Capital last year, road-side messages and pollution messages are being displayed.

Messages sent out under the airTEXT service said: “High air pollution forecast for Thursday. Consider spending less time outdoors, take medication. If unwell contact GP.”

Mr Khan commented: “The extent of our air quality crisis means that I have today triggered a London-wide air quality alert, ensuring Londoners have all the information possible. It’s crucial that Londoners who are vulnerable, such as asthma sufferers, are able to take appropriate measures to protect themselves.”

The Mayor also reiterated his calls for action on air quality, including a national diesel scrappage scheme.

Transport for London recently held the second phase of an air quality consultation, which set out detailed proposals for the early introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone and its expansion, as well as proposals for an emissions surcharge on older vehicles – dubbed the ‘T-charge’.

Mr Khan added: “At City Hall, we will keep on delivering the most ambitious programme to tackle air quality anywhere in the world, including the T-charge later this year, bringing forward the ULEZ and cleaning up our bus fleet.

“However, today I am again appealing to the Government to urgently play their part too. By funding a national diesel scrappage scheme, reforming vehicle excise duty and bringing in a new Clean Air Act the Government could finally prove that they match our ambition. This requires all levels of Government to work together as an urgent priority to finally tackle the problem once and for all.”

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Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.