Is an hour-long daily traffic ban the answer?
A South Yorkshire MP has called for roads in London to be closed for an hour every day - to give children on the school run and people heading to work the chance to walk, cycle or jog without their lungs being "clogged with the filthy fumes of our city".
Speaking during question time in the House of Commons, Rotherham MP Denis MacShane told MPs Colombia's capital Bogota bans traffic every Sunday resulting in a "paradise" for pedestrians and cyclists.
He asked Environment Minister Jim Fitzpatrick: "Why don't you take your team to Bogota in Colombia - a city of seven million - where every Sunday all vehicular traffic is banned, and it becomes a paradise for cyclists, walkers and joggers?
"Why can't we shut down London for a day a week or an hour each morning to allow children to be taken to school, to allow me to be able to bike or jog to Parliament without my lungs being clogged up with the filthy fumes of our city?
"An hour free of traffic a day in London."
Mr Fitzpatrick said there had been "significant reductions" in road transport emissions since 1997 despite a 13 per cent increase in road traffic.
He also said the Mayor of London was responsible for improving air quality in the capital and would be publishing a public consultation on a draft air quality strategy in the near future.
What do you think? Join the debate by adding your comment below.
Don't miss our daily pull-outs - only in the The Star: Monday Star Sport, Tuesday Class Act; Wednesday Business; Thursday Grassroots; Friday Time Out; Saturday Retro. Subscribe to The Star - CLICK HERE
READ MORE
Join the Star reader panel
Main news index
Your letters
Features
South Yorkshire's environmental news
Kids Zone
More business news
More Rotherham news
More Doncaster news
More Barnsley news
Latest sport
Email to a friend
Print this page- Sheffield school massage sessions under fire
- SHEFFIELD UNITED: Blades told to turn on style in bid to regain second place: Urges Danny Wilson
- A tough-talking TV show has put the spotlight on a Sheffield restaurant. Julia Armstrong went to see what has changed...
- Biobank study will add to knowledge
- Fleetwood Mac, Sheffield Arena - REVIEW AND SLIDESHOW
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
