Councils warn of need to cut pollution
Author: Daily Telegraph - Nov 30, 2009
The UK has one of the worse rates of air pollution from cars and factories in Europe and could be fined £300 million in the next 18 months because of failure to meet clean air targets.
The Local Government Association said the fine would add £15 to the average annual council tax bill. Previous research shows air pollution already kills 24,000 people a year and could kill up to 36,000 because of lung complaints.
Paul Bettison, the LGA spokesman on air pollution, said councils must be given more powers to control pollution. For example by imposing congestion charges to stop cars in town centres and improving public transport.
"For the benefit of the taxpayer in the long term and to protect people’s health the government needs to help councils cut pollution. The looming fines facing the country mean that we, as a nation, need to strive to improve air quality before public money is sucked into the EU and gets diverted from front line services," he said.
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