12/05/2013 Sunday Politics West

In the West: How thousands of lives in Bristol are being put at risk

because of pollution from vehicles in the city centre. So should the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1887 seconds

Mayor introduce a congestion charge 23,000 Bristolian us are having

their health put at risk because the of pollutants in the atmosphere.

That is coming up but let's make our guests today. The Conservative

MP for Kingswood and the mayor of Bristol. I want to talk about the

Queen's speech and the news that the Government will try to limit

NHS cover for a short stay immigrants. You have been part of

that, what does it mean exactly? Yes, I was calling debates on this

going to the Department of Health arguing that we need to do this. At

the moment there are tens of millions of pounds being spent on

here. We will make sure NHS trusts will make sure people have the

documentation to prove they are eligible for that here. Who will

get turned away? Obviously when it comes to emergency treatment and

someone's life is at risk they will not be turned away but obviously

they will then be presented with a bill if they are not a British

citizen. Who will this applied to? Anyone who is not ordinarily a

British citizen. Anyone who comes over here to use the NHS services

without being entitled to. It is not an international health service.

It is a British one. And what do you think? I think it is up to a

story. You or I could go almost anywhere in Europe and get

treatment. I think we have got to be really careful about it. We have

as many people going to other countries in Europe as we have

coming to us. I think mean this is not a very good policy. Our economy

is driven by a lot of these people who have come into the country.

There is a terrible sense of panic being generated at the moment. I am

certainly not one who has a knee- jerk reaction against helping

people who are in this country for good reasons. A pregnant woman

arrives at Bristol airport and needs treatment, that should be fee

and we should pay for them? general assumption would be that

they are not taking the mickey. are shaking your head. When it

comes to Europe week pay and of full lot every year. We are

spending �10 billion on the NHS and we have to rein in the costs. This

is what is driving all the debate around emigration. I recognise that

hard-working people pay their tax. Thousands of people living in

Bristol are being exposed to harmful levels of the gas nitrogen

dioxide. It is colourless and odourless and released from

vehicles on the road. It can be very damaging to people's health.

Cities like Bristol are breaking EU law and could face heavy fines. Our

reporter has more. You cannot see it or even smell it but the

atmosphere here carries a dirty secret. The particles are much

smaller but they are no less toxic, it they may even be more toxic

because they can work through the lungs and into the bloodstream.

According to the council's own figures, 23,000 people in the city

are being put at risk because they are living in areas where the

pollutants are above agreed European limits. I think it is time

for the people of Bristol to wake up to how much of a problem this is.

It is not just an issue for politicians, it is an issue for

everyone. This is one of the most congested and polluted parts of

Bristol. What does that mean for our health? According to this

document from the city council, the damaging effects and costs to

society are on apart with smoking and obesity. They have known about

the rest for years and according to D Greens in the city something has

to be done. Levels of nitrogen dioxide have been above those which

are designated as safe so people are still being exposed to what are

widely considered by health officials across the world as

dangerous levels of pollution. Europe could reduce the number of

vehicles on our roads and impose fines. Our governments came

together and set certain targets to be met at European level. The

European authorities including the European Parliament where I set

have quite rightly said you set those targets, go out and meet them.

So, the pressure is on. Will Europe actually find us for cleaning up

our hair? Of course we are in favour of less the air pollution.

We do not want their pollution at any level but this is not the right

way to go about it. We have got to rely on ourselves, not on a series

of EU directives which are liable to be enforced by us and not by

other European countries. So here it has become a European issue and

a local nightmare for the mayor. There is no simple way for the

Mayor to clean up their pollution in Bristol, if there was, it would

be done. All he can do is reduce the numbers of cars and lorries

moving hour -- using our roads and where they are used, make the

pollution from them less. The mayor does do his own little bit for

Bristol's their quality by getting on his bike. Cyclists see him as a

friend but so far he has been unable to convince enough motorists

to join him. The nitrogen dioxide levels are far above the targets.

We should be spending more on better public transport, walking

and cycling. I know there are many priorities but air pollution should

be top of the list, it will save lives in the city and create a

healthier environment for our children. So the mayor has been

warned, it is the health of tens of thousands of his residence at stake.

We are joined by the man who has to sort it out. Do you welcome the

challenge and will you fix this? absolutely welcomed the challenge.

It was top of my Agenda for Bristol. I think we need a longer period

than the 5.5 months we have had to make the difference. Bristol

monitors air quality really well. We have been praised by Europe for

monitoring it really well, that is the irony. We have had imposed on

as many diesel vehicles. It has risen from 10% to 50%. This is

mainly about car traffic, big buses and lorries. It is not mainly about

industrial pollution. One option is that ingesting charge, where do you

stand on that? Congestion charges one of a number of possible

measures. I am definitely bringing in a resident's parking zone which

will help with the reduction of commuter traffic. I am definitely

working with my partners to produce much, much better public transport.

I am working to make quite sure that we become a much more

pedestrian and cycle friendly city. Yes, but what about the congestion

charge? I have asked that the congestion charges looked at by one

of my officers. Are you instinctively in favour or against?

I am instinctively in favour of things that improve the health of

the residents of Bristol. There are some people in this city who have a

life expectancy 10 years less than others because of the places the

living. There are probably on average 500 people in this city

dying 10 years earlier because of the level of air pollution in their

area. The only other major city to have done the congestion charges

London. Ken Livingston introduced it and has this advice. I had three

years of people predicting it would be a disaster. The more significant

thing is that there could not be a bigger difference between myself

and Boris Johnson and he has kept the congestion charge because it

works. If you are going to rule it out, rule it out now. I am not

ruling anything out, that would be irresponsible of me. I am going to

make this the most liveable city in the UK and part of it is to make

sure that we have a healthy city. People using active transport which

does not pollute. I drive an electric car. Is there a danger

that this report will be used by a minority political groups and

single issue action groups to impose some pretty heavy penalties

on drivers? We have got to be serious about the issue. This is

not about being anti-car as some people will paint it. It is about

being pro-life. Making quite sure that our children are able to walk

safely to school. Making sure they do not begin these horrible

particles. Making sure they do not have to deal with climate change.

It is about the bigger picture and making sure we free up the roads

for essential driving. His ambit of the air pollution a price worth

paying for a busy commercial city? Bristol has always had a problem in

terms of its layout. The congestion is caused by cars backing up.

going round and round because they cannot find a parking space.

reason I think our local mayor is an asset is because he will make

changes that have been needed for years. On the congestion charge I

would say I would opposed that tooth and nail. The reason Ken

Livingston lost his position is because he tried to extend the

congestion charge. The air has been a lot of work but what are you

going to do? By June this year I will be producing an air-quality

strategy which will be local action. There is no silver bullet to this

but it is a matter of taking the leadership and making quite sure

that we drive through these serious measures to reduce the amounts of

pollution. I am happy to take the flak if I believe I am doing the

right thing. Labour have admitted the local election results in this

part of the world where a let down and a cause for concern. Across the

country they gained about 20 councillors. Our reporter has more.

After World War II have the male population worked in the coal

industry. It was a working-class area. Now tourism is the major

breadwinner. Back 50 years the forest of Dean had a Labour MP. The

county council was Labour lead to but times have changed. At a museum

dedicated to the Forest's mining history I met up with a former

miner turned poet. He was a Labour supporter for many years but he has

now given his support to UKIP. He explains in a poem. Politics,

Labour and Conservative, you've been in and out of power. I believe

your promises have now all turned sour. There are more on the dole

than there ever was before. This country is not just for the rich

but also for the poor. Let's give UKIP to have a chance. Their

promising the moon. Then the getting to the Government and the

show you a photograph of it, that is all you are going to get. Locals

here tell me why they have steered away from the main political

parties when they went to the polls last week. I voted UKIP, I am

usually a Labour supporter. always supported Labour but I only

changed because I like the people that are with UKIP. Over a pint in

the pub I met one of the newly elected UKIP counsellors. He says

they are here to stay. I will keep building on it. I will just listen

to people. If people will follow that lead and get away from the

rubbish that we are racist I think they will progress quite steadily.

Many agree that the Tories were the biggest losers and UKIP the biggest

winners. UKIP did not just pick up disaffected Tories. The Labour

leader in the House of Lords grew up in the Dean. She admits they

have not done well enough. I think people have been disappointed and

disillusioned by mainstream politics. They are struggling

economically to put food on the table. They are wanting jobs. They

will find mainstream politics has not been offering the answers they

need. This will Labour district councillor who lost out to UKIP for

a seat on the county council says his party should not underestimate

UKIP. I do not share the perception that UKIP is a Tory problem. I

think it is a problem for all of those who have lost votes to them.

They did not get the results they got in the Forest of Dean without

harvesting some previous Labour boats and we have got to do

something to get that back. -- Labour votes. Will it take a shift

to the left or the rights? So I am joined by a member of the policy

forum. You are failing to connect with people. I do not think that is

true. People have not talked about some of the policies that Labour

are interested in. You kept have filled that gap. The biggest losses

were for the Tories. Labour have made some reasonable progress but

probably not enough. I think it was Peter Mandelson who said about Ed

Miliband that he test drives his policies on a national scale. He

does not understand the people living in the Forest of Dean.

not think that is true. They have elected three UKIP county

councillors. I met someone I work with who used to vote Tory but

voters UKIP. He said the one issue he did that because of was

immigration. In the past there was a bigger influx than we might have

anticipated but we brought in the minimum wage and without policing

that and making sure people cannot undercut, this is a danger. If UKIP

is a threat to you it is a disaster. Not really, when you look at the

country, Bristol only polled 3%. They did not take any seats. It is

becoming fragmented. You would not want to do a deal with UKIP?

because when you look at their policies, they are a protest party.

Their spending commitments would mean massive cuts to the NHS which

I would not welcome. Now look at the political news this week in

just 60 seconds. It was an deep for pomp and ceremony. At the heart of

it Steven Williams who made one of the loyal addresses after the

Queen's speech. The Prime Minister and I were born just hours apart

but for the avoidance of tax he is the older. Negotiations following a

ruling by the National Party Executive Committee. Meanwhile, in

Gloucestershire talks are under way to form a new administration. The

Conservatives remained the largest group and are seeking co-operation

from other parties in advance of next week's meeting. The former

head of public help in the West claims the response to the measles

epidemic has been slowed down by computer changes to D NHS. It is

really unclear who is responsible for what. Let's pick up on one of

these stories, whether Labour will join the cabinet in Bristol. Birdie

in or out at the moment? We are having very civilised discussions

and I expect it will be resolved some time on Monday. You were

elected in November and you have invited Labour members into your

cabinet. They have not served. I think it is a shame they have not

been there. We have had disagreements and I am very happy

for those disagreements to be open. I encourage my cabinet members to

say exactly what they think. That is my style of Government. You are

an historian, does coalition work? Coalitions often end up being

temporary but people respect them when they are in the national

interest. What I would see here is that democracy does not always

deliver a clear result and when it does not you have got to act in the