MPs call for grants to cut truck smoke
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by Miles Brignall • Financial help could he given to London operators for refurbishing old and polluting diesel engines if the Government follows the advice of the Transport Select Committee.
Its report. Transport-Related Air Pollution In London, also calls for tougher smoke monitoring with greater use of roadside sensing equipment.
It says most pollution comes from a small number of offenders and these drivers must be targeted.
The report recommends three more monitoring sites should be built in the capital in the next five years. But this must be supported by more effective enforcement by police and magistrates, it says.
The Committee heard evidence that retrofitting the neces
sary equipment would be prohibitively expensive. The committee concluded it was unlikely to happen unless the Government provided capital allowances. It also calls for a full review of emission test standards and procedures.
L LGVs account for 9". of carbon dioxide emissions in the capital; cars produce 56%. But the committee highlights black smoke and sulphur dioxide as areas of concern. It calls for more research into alternative fuels and a reduction in sulphur levels in diesel.
The latest Government figures on annual emissions tests show that goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are much cleaner than light goods vehicles from 3-3.5 tonnes: 2.4% of LG Vs failed the test, compared with 6.3% of CVs under 3.5 tonnes.