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London: go green or pay a penalty

9th June 2005, Page 6
9th June 2005
Page 6
Page 6, 9th June 2005 — London: go green or pay a penalty
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Ken Livingstone wants hauliers to run cleaner vehicles inside the M25

cordon on pain of paying penalty charges. Jennifer Ball reports.

Exclusive!

HEAVILY POLLUTING trucks could be forced to pay a penalty charge inside the M25 under Transport for London's plans to create a Low Emission Zone.

TfL says that few operators would find this a problem, but there are serious concerns that there will not be given enough time to prepare for the new regs. TfL says it will not release emission levels until six months before the introduction of the scheme.

Operators who run more polluting vehicles would receive penalty charges like those for avoiding the Congestion Charge.

David Hutchinson, TfL policy manager for the environment,says it is particularly concerned about HGVs because an average artic emits over 20 times more nitrogen dioxide per kilometre driven in London than an average petrol or diesel car.

"No decision has been made about whether or not to introduce restrictions, although the Mayor has said publicly that he would like to do so," he adds.

"TfL is currently trying to discover through surveys what problems the setting of emission standards for heavy vehicles operating in London might present. So far most of the larger operators have said they do not see it as a problem,but that is not necessarily the case with smaller operators."

Freight Transport Association engineering policy manager Geoff Day says has two main concerns about the scheme: first, that under EC rules the government would be unable to give operators grants to meet its new "legislative emission standards"; and second, that Ttl, will not define its standards until just six months before the scheme is implemented.

"This would simply not be enough time for operators to look at fleet replacement," says Day. "We think there should be at least two-and-a-half years to do this."

Mathew Parry, from Crymychbased Frenni Transport, who has been consulted over the scheme. says: "If it is serious about cutting pollution the government should ban all vehicles, cars included, older than five years, so people with lung diseases or children with asthma will benefit from everyone taking responsibility for cleaner air and not just a few hauliers." jennifer.ball@rbi.co.uk


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