Today’s news that Environmental Protection UK has been forced to shut is another blot on the UK’s air quality record.

It was announced earlier today that Britain's oldest environmental NGO, an expert body on air pollution and contamination, has succumbed to financial challenges brought about by government cuts to authority budgets.

Lewis Merdler, Campaign Manager of Environmental Protection UK’s Healthy Air Campaign, commented: “Despite this blow to Environmental Protection UK, the Healthy Air Campaign will continue to push for stronger action from the government, and work with industry to combat air pollution, which is causing a public health crisis.”

The closure comes only a week after the Environmental Audit Committee issued a report sharply criticising the UK’s failure to meet EU standards on air pollution.

A key solution put forward by the Environmental Audit Committee was the creation of a network of Low Emission Zones (LEZ) across the country to help combat the problem. This inevitable move to clean up our cities is something heavy vehicle specialists GreenUrban Technologies have been warning of for some time.

“An industry shift is imminent,” said Nigel Standley, CEO of GreenUrban Technologies. “With air quality legislation intensifying, the transport sector needs to prepare for changes now.”

Merdler added: “With 29,000 premature deaths in the UK attributable to poor air quality every year, it is critically important that we continue to raise awareness around the health issues resulting from vehicle fumes.”

“The closure of Environmental Protection UK is another indicator of the UK’s failure to adequately address air pollution. It is a huge blow to the clean air agenda,” commented Standley.