Ex-government minister encourages vandals to 'commit criminal damage' against traffic cameras

 

Science tells us that pollution is causing climate change and that transport is a major contributory factor warming the planet. And that this  will lead to sea level rise. 

 Lancashire will become particular vulnerable and large tracts of land will become submerged  within the next seven years. (Check out the Lancashire Telegraph and Lancs Alive.)

Yet the recent transport news leaves me reeling at the growing opposition to what the government is calling the "ruinous" race to net zero - to cut pollution. 

The struggle to limit pollution is failing as the Conservatives turn  important issues into political football in the hope of boosting flagging support for their failed policies.

Worse, one former minister and the right-wing press are encouraging vandals to commit criminal damage to traffic cameras, as reported by The Guardian.

 Not only that but gains made in road safety are beginning to unravel which will only deter people from cycling which, as we know, is the recommended mode of transport for many short journeys currently made by car. 

The government on the one hand reluctantly acknowledges the need to cut pollution but on the other cynically, devises policies which will only increase it, such as opposing schemes aimed at restricting the worst polluting vehicles in towns by charging to enter Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ).

There is another government action which will also increase traffic. This is the proposal to remove Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes, which have these past 30 years, improved the quality of life for many residents, and also made local roads safer for cycling. 

First off, though, ULEZ.  To drive into these low emision zones will cost you if driving a vehicle not classed as low emission.

This scheme has caused an outcry among drivers and the Conservatives have seized upon this to win votes by championing "poor" people who say they cannot afford to pay.

ULEZ was introduced by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who wants to extend it to every London borough.

So desperate are the Conservatives to discredit the ULEZ scheme, MPs have – unbelievably - resorted to encouraging vandals to attack cameras at the zone entry points. Some 600 cameras of the 3000 needed to enforce the new London zone have so far been destroyed!

So much for the self-styled “party of law and order”!  says The Guardian who ran the story on Friday last - written by Polly Toynbee. She reminds us that “Stop Oil” protesters have been jailed for criminal damage. Now we have MPs encouraging breaking the law to suit their political agenda.

According to Toynbee, Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative Leader, is “openly calling for protestors to commit criminal damage” by attacking ULEZ cameras!

This is the law and order tough guy, says Toynbee, who points out that Smith

helped push through new anti-protester laws which have resulted in two climate protesters being jailed for climbing onto a bridge and disrupting traffic!

Ah, Smith – such integrity. A man of the people.

ULEZ was created in response to serious health concerns over the worsening air quality which is estimated to have caused 4000 premature deaths in one year in London.

So as well as contributing to climate change, traffic pollution is also killing people. Not that the Conservative Party appear to be showing concern.

The introduction of low emission zones is an attempt to keep out the worst polluting vehicles by charging drivers £12.50 a day to enter the zones. Many people and businesses operating on a shoe-string plead they cannot afford to pay this and yet they cannot do without their vehicles.

So that’s an issue which needs to be resolved.

But if you can afford to pay you may still pollute! Doh.

What’s the point of that?  Its saying if you can pay you may continue to pollute. Bollocks.

One good idea is the suggestion that drivers are paid £2000 “scrappage” which would help towards buying a cleaner vehicle. 

It should be noted that France has banned vehicles which do not meet the new limits.

Britain’s way, however, is to turn this crisis into a game of politics while people meet premature deaths caused by polluted air and, in seven years’ time, by drowning as the sea floods their own homes.

Khan is Labour, so the Conservative government are opposing expansion of the zones in the hope of gaining brownie points over Labour to curry favour with voters they perceive are turning against green policies.

It’s all about the ballot box and the cynical “need” to secure the drivers vote in the next general election -  a few years before the seas start to roll in! 

The government knows there is public support calling for action to cut pollution to stave off the worst of climate change but they also fear a backlash from people who do not want to face up to the reality of what this might cost them – in the short term, that is; not using the car, for instance. And vote them out of office at the next general election.

The other traffic issue concerns the Prime Minister’s threat to take out low traffic neighbourhood schemes so he can say to drivers, look, I'm looking after you by finding more roads for you to use!

By doing so, this will allow through-traffic to once more use residential roads as rat runs.  Apart from benefitting residents these past 30 years since their introduction, LTNs have also contributed to making cycling safer.

Cycling UK, who urges us to write to the PM about this, said last week:

“Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) are widely supported by communities, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is listening to a vocal minority and has announced a review that could put our quiet residential streets and safe cycle routes at risk.”

The government cannot be allowed to succeed in taking out LTNs, say Cycling UK.

The government has already stood idly by as local authorities removed pop-up cycle lanes installed during the pandemic. And this year they have cut £millions from their own Active Travel Policy intended to encourage cycling and walking because, in my view, they fear a real increase in cycling will antagonise, yes - you are spot on – will antagonise motorists and certainly the right wing press.

And finally…

Here’s the  thing - the connection between pollution and those heavy torrential downpours.

The science says that the billions of tiny particles resulting from burning carbon (from traffic, homes, factories etc.)  are circulating in the sky above where they attract condensation.  This in turn increases cloud water vapour by 40 per cent. Which is then dropped in those sudden downpours which can cause flash floods.