West End Letters: Pensioner | Heatwave

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 10 July 2009

Threat of a heatwave

• WE all know that pensioners and other vulnerable people can be particulary at risk each winter, but summer heatwaves can also prove lethal.
The high levels of air pollution in London mean people with respiratory problems are at risk because of the hot weather. An average of 3,000 people are estimated to die prematurely in London every year as a result of air pollution. But that figure could be higher during really hot years. The Mayor of London and the government need to act urgently to deal with this threat .
The mayor could start by targeting black cabs, responsible for a third of the particulate pollution in central London. He could also reverse his decision to drop the mid-year inspections for taxis which previously resulted in 2,300 cabs being taken off the road and cleaned up each year.
We need to learn lessons from the Paris smog of six years ago which contributed to thousands of excess deaths during August.
DARREN JOHNSON AM
Green Party Member
London Assembly

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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