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Labour and Tories today voted against a Green amendment to the Council budget to fund a research and implementation plan for a Clean Air Zone in Bristol. This takes the surplus money raised from parking and spends it on an implementation plan to improve Bristol’s air quality.
Green councillor Jerome Thomas who proposed the amendment said:
“I am saddened by today’s vote. Over 200 people die every year in Bristol from air pollution and we believed that we would have cross party support on addressing this invisible killer. Labour’s own MP Thangam Debbonaire launched the Bristol Clean Air Campaign, and yet Labour councillors have voted against an amendment supporting an implementation plan for a clean air zone.”
Green Councillor Stephen Clarke added:
“It seems to me quite extraordinary that the Labour councillors could have voted against a Clean Air Zone in Bristol. What better way could there be to spend surplus from parking revenue than addressing the air pollution problem that is leading to premature deaths amongst the most vulnerable citizens across our city?”