‘The pollution issue is not cars per se, but their means of propulsion’

• MIGHT I make two observations on a letter that suggested that “cars must go” (Toxic air kills and we must get rid of cars, September 7)?

First, the letter asserted that the ULEZ regulations “will lead to significant reduction in the number of people living in areas of poor air quality: by 72 per cent in central London…”.

As presumably 72 per cent of the residents of central London will not be moving out, this figure can only relate to a reduction in the area of low air quality.

However, given that the ultra low emission zone has been in operation in central London for some time now, it seems unlikely that the new ULEZ will result in cleaner air for sufficiently more areas of central London to reach this target as it is introduced in outer London. And it is not stated over what time frame this reduction will take place, which is critical to understanding its effectiveness.

Second, the suggestions that “cars must go” is unlikely to happen. It is unrealistic that the use of cars, and road transport in general, in London, and even less so across the whole United Kingdom, will cease.

This brings one to the statement by the Mayor of London that he will be on the right side of history with respect to his ULEZ policy. The need to deploy that argument is because Sadiq Khan has lost the current debate, as shown by the current backlash.

Few doubt that reducing pollution is desirable. The real question is how to achieve that objective in a manner that does not destroy the economy, because poverty is a greater killer than the current levels of pollution in London and the UK as a whole.

The pollution issue is not cars per se, but their means of propulsion. Electric-powered vehicles have their own issues, for example, battery disposal, and increased wear of roads and tyres; but banning all powered, road transport is not a viable solution.

That is, unless the proposal is to revert to the Dark Ages when everyone lived out their meagre lives within a few miles of where they lived, because mass transport and individual means of transport are an integral part of a modern, more enriched, culture and society.

MICHAEL EDENBOROUGH, N1