Complaint
The article dealt with the planned extension of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the whole of Greater London. A reader complained that it was incorrect in saying “A public consultation found 80% of people in the affected areas were opposed to the expansion of the zone”. The ECU considered the complaint against the BBC’s editorial standards of accuracy.
Outcome
The figure reported as a result of the public consultation was 59% of those responding (not of all residents of the affected areas). In response to the complaint, the sentence was altered to read “Nearly 60% of people who responded to a public consultation were opposed to expansion of the zone”, and a note explaining the alteration was added to the article. In the ECU’s judgement this was sufficient to resolve the issue of complaint.
Resolved