Government being sued by European Court of Justice over ‘illegal’ pollution levels

THE Government is being taken to the European Court of Justice over air pollution.

Levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) had breached safe EU limits, the European Commission said.

NO2, largely from ­diesel fumes, was more than twice the limit in 16 areas in 2016, including London, Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow.

EU commissioner Karmenu Vella said Britain failed to provide “credible, effective and timely” plans to tackle pollution.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the UK was one of 22 EU states exceeding NO2 limits.

A Defra spokesman said its Clean Air Strategy will help cut “pollution from all sources”.