London elects a new mayor on 1 May. In the second part of a series, we examine the scientific policies of the Lib Dem candidate.
Katherine Nightingale
The Liberal Democrat candidate for mayor, Brian Paddick, is a former deputy assistant commissioner and spent 30 years in the London Metropolitan Police. He plans to use new technology to reduce London’s energy usage and kickstart the transport system.
A scientific city
London’s development hinges on encouraging research and development, says Paddick. “If London is to maintain our position in the world economy, it needs to develop across a broad front—we’ve got to develop our high-end, technical and scientific pre-eminence if we are to compete and maintain our world position.”
“We have gone through a phase where people were surprised and amazed by technological advances to one where it’s taken for granted. We need to encourage far more people to become interested in science and technology, particularly young people.”
The establishment of the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation is an example of the kind of initiative London needs to take, he believes. “[The centre] is an important example of London being seen as a 21st century capital with an eye on future development.”
Clever transport
Simple measures such as rephasing and cutting down on traffic lights, and planning road works more efficiently are key to Paddick’s aim to cut congestion—and therefore pollution and carbon emissions—with smoother and faster journeys. “It’s a lack of coordination that causes traffic to be snarled up and polluting more,” he says. He would also like a “much more intelligent congestion charge which differentiates between essential and non-essential users”.
Paddick will keep a flat rate of £8 per car in the Central congestion Charge Zone, and continue to develop ‘tag and beacon’ technology allowing deductions from a smartcard—possibly the ubiquitous Oyster card—via a sensor on the windscreen.
But he’ll scrap Ken Livingstone’s plans for a £25 charge for high-polluting cars, the Western Extension Zone and the Low Emissions Zone, which he claims will only bring a 0.3% improvement in air quality for considerable cost. Instead, a 24/7 £10 Greater London congestion zone for non-Londoners would be introduced, with exemptions for commercial vehicles.
“People have got to be encouraged to go down the environmentally friendly route and there should be incentives to doing that rather than penalising people for not doing it,” he says.
He intends to expand car clubs for those who want personal transport and will also support the installation of electric sockets in parking spaces so that electric cars can be recharged.
He also encourages walk and cycling, promising an additional £50 m for cycle lanes on all red routes, a ‘cycling representative’ on the Transport for London board, a free bike scheme called SmartHire, and better pedestrian signage. ‘Green’ purchases could also earn us cheaper travel, with a proposed green smartcard.
High-tech energy
Paddick is keen to use new technology to reduce London’s carbon emissions. He proposes powering the tube with renewables, developing hydrogen technology for buses, and converting taxis to run on hydrogen or hybrid power.
He proposes a permanent and rolling exhibition of the latest developments in sustainable energy and ‘green technology’, at an iconic site in London—possibly Battersea Power Station—where people can see the latest developments in reducing energy consumption, insulating homes and local power generation.
All major building developments would be self-sustaining in terms of energy, waste and water consumption and refurbishments would be required to be energy efficient. Blocks of flats and schools would be encouraged to use on-site combined heat and power generation to generate their own electricity.
Green means brown
Protecting London’s green spaces means redeveloping brownfield sites, even if it means increasing density, according to Paddick. “There are 7,000 hectares of brownfield sites owned by public sector organisations that can be used for building affordable housing without building on green spaces in the suburbs and building on back gardens.”
“In order to encourage biodiversity it’s not just a case of preserving a bit of green space here and there, it’s necessary to preserve large swathes of green space,” he says, also proposing the planting of 10,000 trees.
All housing estates would be given composting and recycling facilities under Paddick’s plans, and recycling bins will be encouraged at supermarket exits to recycle excess food packaging. Free newspapers will be recycled at major transport interchanges.
Previously
Sian Berry, Green candidate