Clean air at centre of Lib Den local election push

The Liberal Democrats are to put clean air at the centre of their campaign for next month’s local elections, announcing plans for a £20 billion fund to fight the ‘invisible enemy’ of pollution in England’s communities.

According to The Independent, the funding, forming part of the Lib Dems’ flagship £150 billion Green Recovery Fund, would invest £5.5 billion into new walking and cycling routes, £4.5 billion into light rail and tram projects, £5 billion for the expansion of bus routes and £2 billion to convert bus fleets to hydrogen fuel.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey will unveil the policy on a campaign visit to Watford, where the party hopes to maintain their control of the borough council on 6 May, when elections take place in 143 local authorities in England.

He said: “Air pollution is an invisible enemy threatening the community spaces we love and the people we care most about. It kills thousands of people every year and affects the quality of life for all of us. At the same time, air pollution is threatening our world, with climate change.

“After the experience of the pandemic, people want action focused on their community and know that bold action for clean air could bring huge health and environmental benefits - and help kickstart the green recovery and the new jobs we all know are so desperately needed. Our Community Clean Air Fund would let councils and communities invest in the transport systems and options they need, rather than Whitehall and Westminster dictating what’s right.”

Davey said that the fund would include £2 billion to help congested towns and cities set up clean air zones with levies for high-emission vehicles, of the kind established for the first time by Lib Dem-controlled Bath in March.