London low emission zone is go
Polluting lorries face fines under London's low emission zone
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Monday, 04, Feb 2008 08:11
From today onwards drivers of the worst-polluting lorries face a £200 penalty for entering London after the UK's first low emission zone (LEZ) was launched.
Lorries weighing more than 12 tonnes within the border of the M25 will be assessed by cameras to determine whether they are exceeding European Union exhaust limits.
Drivers face a penalty of up to £1,500 if they fail to comply with the Euro three emission standards for particulate matter.
In 2010 the scheme will be extended to smaller lorries, although cars and motorbikes will remain exempt.
Transport for London, which is managing the £49 million scheme, said London had the worst air quality in the UK and among the worst in Europe.
"The mayor of London has a legal obligation to take steps towards meeting national and European Union air quality objectives which are designed to protect human health," a statement said.
"The mayor believes a low emission zone is the most effective way to achieve reductions of the most harmful road transport generated emissions in London."
But the Freight Transport Association (FTA) says up to 10,000 vehicles in the 610-square mile LEZ are not compliant with EU standards.
"Londoners are entitled to cleaner air and all of us operating vehicles, whether they are cars, buses, taxis, or commercial vehicles, should do all we can to reduce emissions," said FTA head of policy for London Gordon Telling.
"However, this scheme achieves very little that would not have been achieved anyway as the result of enhanced EU engine standards.
"The biggest pollution from traffic in London comes from cars and the scheme does not apply to them."
Commenting on the launch of the LEZ, Tony Arbour, Conservative spokesman on the environment in the London Assembly, said the policy was "flawed".
"The boundaries of the LEZ are so badly drawn up that rural fringe areas are caught up in it for no good reason," he claimed.
"My postbag has been filled with letters from farmers who, while not part of the problem, will pay heavily from this clumsy solution from our zone one mayor.
"The scheme is being rushed through, giving businesses very little time to invest in the required changes. The mayor has made things worse by refusing financial help to firms who have to adapt."