Government could be fined over Heathrow pollution
06.02.10
The Government could face significant fines after allowing air pollution at Heathrow to breach European limits, according to campaign group No Third Runway Action Group (Not RAG). It says that, despite previously admitting that nitrogen dioxide levels around the airport are above permitted levels, ministers have taken no action to improve air quality.
Since January 1, all EU Member States have been required to comply with limits set down in the 2008 Air Quality Directive. The Directive requires Governments to ‘do their utmost to comply with EU standards in the shortest possible time’ and set a deadline of January 1. Now local residents backed by the campaign group have made a formal complaint to Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas over the Government's failure to comply with the directive.
Geraldine Nicholson, chairs of Not RAG, says that the Government has failed over 10 years to put in place the measures necessary to comply with EU law and protect locals health. She said: ‘Not only have ministers done nothing to reduce pollution, they want to build a third runway that can only make it worse. This shows a complete disregard for the law and the well being of local people. We are calling on the Commissioner to take immediate action to enforce EU law and protect the health of people who live around the airport’
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