Press Release

Mayor gives go-ahead to world's largest Low Emission Zone
9-5-2007   283

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has today approved plans from Transport for London for the implementation of a London-wide Low Emission Zone, to cut harmful emissions from the most polluting lorries, coaches and buses. The scheme, which was one of the Mayor's key manifesto commitments, is the first in the UK and the largest in the world. It will launch in February 2008, improving air quality across the capital.

London currently suffers the worst air pollution in the UK and some of the poorest in Europe. Poor air quality worsens asthma and also causes the premature death of over 1,000 people each year. The most recent survey of Londoners, carried out by Ipsos Mori, found that 72 per cent of Londoners are worried about pollution from traffic exhaust fumes.

The Low Emission Zone is the most effective way of quickly reducing pollutants that are among the most harmful to human health. It is estimated that by 2012 the Low Emission Zone will deliver reductions of around 16 per cent in the area of London where the air quality exceeds European Union pollution objectives, and will deliver over £250m of health benefits.

Mayor Ken Livingstone said:

"In a modern world city, people should have the opportunity to live and work without fear of being poisoned by the air they breathe. Thousands of Londoners suffer ill-health from pollution released by traffic fumes. This is why we are launching the London-wide Low Emission Zone. It will improve Londoners' quality of life, and help make London cleaner and greener for residents and visitors alike.

"I am encouraged that, along with the vast majority of Londoners, most London businesses welcome this proposal. London is now being widely hailed as the world's pre-eminent business and financial centre, as well as already being one of the most popular tourist destinations, and in a world that has to be increasingly focussed on tackling climate change, the London Low Emission Zone will say loud and clear that we are also a city that places environmental protection at the top of its agenda."

Michèle Dix, Director of the London Low Emission Zone at Transport for London, said: “The London-wide Low Emission Zone will be the largest of its kind in the world. Our surveys on the proposals found that 70 per cent of public and stakeholder respondents, and 69 per cent of business respondents, support the scheme."

The latest government figures show that roadside air pollution in London has been on the rise for the last two years. The Low Emission Zone aims to improve London's air quality and thereby improve Londoners' health by encouraging operators of the most polluting vehicles - diesel engined lorries, coaches and buses - to clean up their fleets.

Most of these vehicles are already achieving lower emissions. Transport for London estimates that two thirds of all lorries and half of all buses and coaches driving in London would be compliant with the 2008 Low Emission Zone standards without any changes to current fleet management programmes. The Zone is aimed at encouraging the remaining dirty vehicles to get cleaned up.

Dr Noemi Eiser, Honorary Medical Director for the British Lung Foundation, said: "The British Lung Foundation welcomes the introduction of a London-wide Low Emission Zone. Any initiative which reduces harmful emissions for Londoners is a positive step forward, particularly for the most vulnerable such as the elderly and very young.

"Improving the air we breathe should mean fewer premature deaths, reduced hospital visits, and fewer GP consultations for people with respiratory disease."

Steve Shaffelburg, Policy Manager at the British Heart Foundation said: "There is strong evidence that air pollution can make existing heart conditions worse. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) believes the London-wide Low Emission Zone could mean great news for the 300,000 people in London living with heart disease.

"It's important the health impact of the Low Emission Zone is monitored because it could provide compelling evidence to others who are working on innovative ways to protect and improve people’s heart health."

Sarah Bazin, Chair of Council, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: "Every year, physiotherapists see thousands of people with respiratory conditions, like asthma, whose symptoms are made worse by the particles pumped out by heavily polluting vehicles. Our analysis of official data on air pollution consistently places the capital right at the top of the UK air quality 'hotspots' league and it is clear that radical steps need to be taken to bring this situation under control.

"We believe this decision represents a major step forward for the respiratory health of people living and working in London and we would urge other local authorities to follow the example set by the Mayor and Transport for London."

From February 2008 the Low Emission Zone will apply to lorries over 12 tonnes. From July 2008 the Low Emission Zone will also apply to lighter lorries, buses and coaches, and the dirtiest of other heavy vehicles.

Operators of affected lorries, buses and coaches that do not meet the Low Emission Zone standards (unless exempt or entitled to a 100% discount) will need to pay a charge of £200 for each charging day they are driven in the zone. The level of charge has been set in order to encourage operators to clean up their fleets rather than to incur a charge. The Mayor hopes that very few non-compliant vehicles will be driven in the zone.

Should an operator of a non-compliant vehicle not pay the daily charge for driving within the Zone, then following the service of a penalty charge notice (PCN), a penalty charge of £1,000 will apply for lorries, buses and coaches and other relevant vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, reduced to £500 if paid within 14 days.

From Monday 14 May 2007, vehicle operators and members of the public will be able to contact Transport for London for detailed information about the Low Emission Zone by calling 0845 607 0009 or by visiting Transport for London's website at www.tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon.

Notes to Editors

The Low Emission Zone will:

• operate using cameras to identify registration numbers of vehicles driving within Greater London. The scheme will operate seven days a week, 365 days a year.
• Use the DVLA database and others to identify a vehicle's emissions standards, whether it was liable for a charge and if that charge has been paid.
• Allow for the standard for Lorries, coaches and buses to be tightened in early 2012 to Euro IV.

Through the fitting of particulate traps, all London buses under contract to Transport for London already meet a minimum of Euro III emission standards for particulate matter.

Similarly, the Taxi Emissions Strategy requires all London licensed taxis to meet Euro III emission standards for particulates and oxides of nitrogen by mid 2008, consistent with the Low Emission Zone requirements for lorries, buses and coaches.

Health benefits calculations are based on the EU Café system, which takes into account a wide range of health effects from restricted activity days and respiratory symptoms to increased use of medicines.

The emission standards for the Low Emission Zone are based on Euro standards. These are European standards which set limit values for exhaust emissions for new vehicles sold in Europe, and which these vehicles must comply with when manufactured.

• The baseline emission standards for the Low Emission Zone are the Euro standards for all four regulated pollutants, rather than for particulates (PM) only. Therefore, from February 2008 the base standard for lorries over 12 tonnes would be Euro III in order to drive within the Low Emission Zone at no charge.
• The Euro III standard became mandatory for all new lorries, buses and coaches sold in the EU from October 2001 and for all new vans and minibuses sold in the EU from January 2002. Transport for London would assume that a lorry, bus or coach is Euro III compliant if it was first registered on or after 1 October 2001, or 1 January 2002 for vans and minibuses.
• The Euro IV standard became mandatory for all new lorries, buses and coaches sold in the EU from October 2006. Transport for London would assume that a lorry, bus or coach is Euro IV compliant if it was first registered on or after 1 October 2006.
• The emissions standard of a vehicle could be improved by fitting a particulate trap or filter which substantially reduces the amount of particulate matter emitted from the vehicle's exhaust. An operator could also re-engine the vehicle or convert it to an approved alternative fuel, such as compressed natural gas (CNG).
• From July 2008 lorries, buses, coaches, motorcaravans, ambulances and hearses between 3.5 tonnes and 12 tonnes will also be affected.
• 'From 2010 the Low Emission Zone will include heavier diesel-engine light goods vehicles and minibuses. The lightest vans (under 1.205t unladen weight) will be excluded from this stage as they have car-like emissions. TfL estimates that 350,000 LGVs and minibuses in this category come into London each year, but that over three-quarters will already be compliant with the Zone, leaving a minority of fleet owners who will need to put in place new plans to comply. We are giving them three years notice of this change.'

The British Lung Foundation is the only UK charity working for everyone affected by lung disease. The charity focuses its resources on providing support for people affected by lung disease today; and works in a variety of ways (including funding world-class research) to bring about positive change, to improve treatment, care and support for people affected by lung disease in the future. It provides information via the website www.lunguk.org and telephone helpline 08458 50 50 20.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the nation's heart charity, dedicated to saving lives through pioneering research, patient care, campaigning for change and by providing vital information. But we urgently need help. We rely on donations of time and money to continue our life-saving work. Because together we can beat heart disease. For more information visit bhf.org.uk

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is the professional, educational and trade union body for the country's 47,000 chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and assistants. It aims to support its members and help them to provide the highest standards of patient care. For more information visist www.csp.org.uk

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