Eixample Respira has taken the “inaction” of Barcelona City Council against pollution to the Ombudsman of Greuges of Barcelona and the European Court of Auditors. In a statement, the entity has warned that the level of air pollution continues to be up to four times higher than the recommended level.
As reported, the European Court of Auditors has asked them for information about the measures that the administrations are applying in Barcelona and the organization has denounced the lack of “effectiveness and non-compliance” in the measures financed with European Next Generation funds. Also the “lack of political will” of the two administrations and the “steps backwards” of the new PSC government against sustainable mobility.
Regarding the projects financed with the Next Generation, he has criticized, for example, that the Green Axes project is applied on streets where few vehicles circulate. Regarding the Low Emissions Zone (ZBE), they assure that the administrations are “pressuring” to delay new restrictions for vehicles with a B label; the lack of construction of new bike lanes and the extension to 50 km/h in areas that should be limited to 30.
Specifically, Eixample Respira has proposed to the Ombudsman and the Court of Auditors measures such as establishing an urban toll, reforming streets such as Aragó and Gran Via, a plan to “effectively” prohibit the parking of motorcycles on the sidewalk and limiting speed at 30km/h throughout the city.
