Joint air attack

Many local authorities in the UK are working to meet air quality objectives by developing specific air quality action plans that will have implications for local transport plans. Seven London boroughs are working together to tackle air pollution. The group, the West London Alliance (WLA), comprises Ealing, Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames. Research conducted by TRL will be used to prioritise transport measures. Challenges include tackling emissions from Heathrow Airport, the A40, M25 and M4 motorways. One policy area is the introduction of the London low-emission zone for promoting alternative fuels and vehicles. The zone will be implemented in 2007 and will initially apply to heavy vehicles. WLA will identify and prioritise local air quality hotspots, encourage the use of cleaner vehicles and assess the role of public transport hubs to provide a modal shift.