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WHAT UNIVERSE DO THEY LIVE IN?
Page 10
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This week the Department for Trade and Industry teamed up with the Swiss Embassy to host a conference about the Low Emission Zone and the sustainable Olympics programme. If they seem unlikely hosts, think again -the Swiss have a plethora of particulate filter companies which are eager to start meeting the need created by Ken Livingstone's clean-up zone. It became clear from the discussions which took place that the particulate filter companies are going to be the only winners in the LEZ debacle, with an estimated 20,000 vehicles requiring retrofitting to comply with the scheme.
The naivete of Transport for London was reflected in one of its first statements about how the scheme would work. For many operators, TfL suggested, the most cost effective way of complying would not be to pay the £3-4,000 to fit a particulate filter but to "flog the old truck and buy a new one". We're not sure in what reality you could switch from a Euro-2 vehicle to a compliant truck (Euro-3 or better) for £4,000, but it is clearly a much kinder, cheaper universe than the rest of us inhabit.
The fact is that this scheme, which will ramp up operating costs, capital outlay and even rates for a limited benefit to the general population. TfL claims the leading cause of air-related health problems is particulate matter from diesel so it is ignoring NOx which is seen as a key factor in the United Statesand the emissions from cars. At best this scheme is characterised by confused thinking, political half-truths and cowardice. Our government does not want to tackle the major cause of congestion, carbon emissions and poor air quality in the UK, which is the nation's love affair with the car.
The chair of the Association for Sustainable London 2012, supposedly overseeing a green Olympics, remarked that he was glad they were cleaning up emissions as it had just taken him 45 minutes to go from City Hall to Baker Streetin a black cab. Next time, mate, try the tube and leave the road clear for those who need to use it.
"Our government does not want to tackle the major cause of congestion"