• LONDON Mayor Sadiq Khan’s announcement this week that his ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) is limited to the central congestion zone is very disappointing.

His manifesto promised a London-wide clean air zone “as early as 2019” that would reduce the number of large vehicles that produce the worst emissions.

His  announcement rolls this back to 2020 for lorries and buses and 2021 for cars and
vans. It leaves Islington residents still plagued by diesel fumes and waiting for clean air.

I will be questioning the mayor on what has changed to make him slow down on delivering clean air.

We are in the middle of a public health crisis. Childhood asthma rates are soaring, pollution contributes to more than 9,000 premature deaths in London every year
and living near congested, dirty roads increases the risk of heart and lung disease and developing dementia.

The mayor needs to deliver clean air as soon as possible. If he was really ambitious he would be looking at proposals for a London-wide ULEZ for all vehicles.

Islington residents tell me they want action to clean up our air and Islington’s exclusion from the ULEZ will be a serious blow.

CLLR CAROLINE RUSSELL
Islington Green Party