Assembly urges full speed ahead on new ultra-low emissions zone

The London Assembly has written to the Mayor Boris Johnson to urge him to look at bringing in a ultra-low emission zone for central London sooner than 2020 and not to restrict plans to new vehicles only. In February this year the Mayor said he wanted to make almost all vehicles driving in central London during working hours zero or low emission by 2020 and asked Transport for London (TfL) to prepare plans for a new ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ). The London Assembly Environment Committee has now written to
August 6, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
The London Assembly has written to the Mayor Boris Johnson to urge him to look at bringing in a ultra-low emission zone for central London sooner than 2020 and not to restrict plans to new vehicles only.

In February this year the Mayor said he wanted to make almost all vehicles driving in central London during working hours zero or low emission by 2020 and asked 1466 Transport for London (TfL) to prepare plans for a new ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ).

The London Assembly Environment Committee has now written to the Mayor outlining their thoughts on the plans, following a meeting with the Mayor’s Environment advisor Matthew Penchars and comments made by the Mayor earlier this month suggesting it might only apply to new vehicles.

The Committee says 2020 is a late date to bring in measures to tackle air pollution given that there are more than 4,000 premature deaths each year in the capital due to air pollution and suggests earlier implementation should be considered.

It says it supports the idea of a more stringent low emission zone and it understands TfL will consult later this year on a range of options. It urges the Mayor not to rule out including all vehicles from the consultation. It sets out the importance of setting the standard high enough to bring significant benefits and calls for modelling of the likely effects and options.

Murad Qureshi AM, chair of the Environment Committee, said: “With thousands of Londoners dying prematurely each year because of air pollution, action is needed to clean up the capital. The ultra-low emission zone may be an effective tool to improve air quality, but only if it is strong enough to make a difference.

“We urge the Mayor and his team to see if action can be taken sooner to protect Londoners from harmful effects of air pollution and look carefully at the most effective options, including creating a zone that applies to all vehicles.“
Air Quality & Weather Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Demand management schemes, is there a better way?
    January 31, 2012
    The European Commission is placing too much emphasis on the use of demand management, according to the FIA. Here, Wil Botman, Director-General of the FIA's European Bureau, explains why. Towards the end of last year, the European Bureau of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) released a statement which criticised the European Commission's (EC's) approach to urban traffic congestion following the adoption of the Action Plan on Urban Mobility. In particular, the FIA voiced concerns over what it
    Read More
  • VW scandal prompts emissions testing debate
    December 1, 2015
    In the wake of the VW scandal John Kendall looks at emissions testing on both sides of the Atlantic. Since the VW emissions story broke in September, emissions testing has come under greater scrutiny, and none more so than in Europe, where critics have long been highlighting the weaknesses of the testing system. Ironically, changes to the emissions testing process were already under review but the story has pushed it up the agenda.
    Read More
  • Average driver spends nearly £1,000 and wastes almost five days stuck in traffic a year
    August 18, 2017
    The average UK motorist is being forced to waste £968 and spend 4.9 days stuck in traffic on major roads each year because of congestion, according to new analysis by the Local Government Association (LGA) in its new report, A country in a jam: tackling congestion in our towns and cities. Travel speeds across the country’s local roads continue to decrease, with the average speed on ‘A’ roads now just 25.2 mph, one per cent slower than it was this time last year. Congestion also significantly contributes to
    Read More
  • Mayor’s lane rental scheme cuts roadwork disruption
    April 11, 2014
    A new study into London’s lane rental scheme shows that since its introduction the amount of serious and severe disruption caused by planned roadworks has been cut by 46 per cent on the capital’s busiest roads, reducing delays for all road users. The scheme, which came into effect in June 2012 on the busiest parts of London’s road network, is designed to encourage utility companies to avoid digging up the busiest roads at peak traffic times. Following the introduction of the scheme, around 90 per cent of
    Read More

Highlighted Content