Cleaning up London’s toxic air

Vehicle Idling via the London Mayor's Fund - the post here is from Hammersmith and Fulham but the opportunities are London wide.

With thanks to Shepherds Bush Blog:
Are You an Idler?
Posted: 29 Sep 2016 01:21 AM PDT

Anyone in our neighbourhood being driven crazy by parked up lorries running their engines in your street - help may be at hand.

Our Council are looking for volunteers who want to be part of a new campaign to reduce air pollution - by stopping drivers from running their engines while they are parked. The campaign is called "I'm no Idler", and subtitled "Vehicle Idling Action".

The idea is to try and stop drivers from running their engines while they are stationary, and raise awareness of the dangers of air pollution.
Why is engine idling an important issue?
According to Vehicle Idling Action, "researchers at Kings College London estimate that 10,000 people die early in London each year, over 400 in Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham alone , as a result of long term exposure to poor air quality".

What will volunteering involve?
As part of a team of "Clean Air Champions" you will be able to help for up to two hours in a series of "action days" in our borough.

Does it involve training?
Yes. You will be "required to attend a training session" and will "gain skills engaging with the public on an important environmental issue", whilst also "improving air quality in your community".

When is this happening?
The campaign is planning to have "monthly action days" from October to March. The first action day will be on the week commencing October 17th. Training sessions will be taking place in early October.

How do you get involved?
To get involved, register your interest using this short online form.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6XUM7iTmxAyLROfQbuzyIaTFPlYd…

Guillaume I agree and this has been my main point all along but it does not seem to be mentioned in the article about the results of the consultation. In my view (and to be clear, I support measures to reduce pollution, including the idea of charges in principle) the proposed flat rate solution will disproportionally hit low mileage drivers of older cars and insufficiently hit (and disincentivise) higher mileage drivers of newer cars that emit more pollutants overall. It also, as you rightly say, will affect lower income households most as they are the ones who will be unable to afford to replace their older car, and pensioners and other culnerable groups who rely on a car for their independence but again may not be able to afford a new one. The rich will simply go out and spend £20k plus on a new PHEV but the rest of us (nkt just very low income households but low to middle income ones who are already stretched) simply cannot find or save that kind of money over the short timescale envisaged before this charge comes in.

To be truly fair the charge really has to be a rate per mile on ALL vehicles (including newer ones unless they are zero or very low emissions) in order to be fair and levy the charge according to the pollution emitted, and I am extremely disappointed that the article which discusses the results of the consultation does not mention this specific point, whereas it does discuss for example other criticisms based on measures such as improving traffic flow to improve pollution. Why is the issue of fairness and the principle of those who pollute (I.e. Drive) the most miles should pay the most in charge seemingly being ignored I this discussion? As you say for a Labour mayor who I assume wants to help those on lower incomes, it is a very regressive measure, in my opinion.

To answer your questions:

- Zero-emissions (and maybe ultra low emissions, i.e. plug-in hybrid) vehicles should always be exempt. ALL other vehicles should pay, including brand new ones that aren't zero or ultra-low emissions, varying the rate based on either VED band or type (e.g. petrol car, diesel car, light van, heavy lorry etc.)
- Diesels should pay more than petrol cars and lorries and other heavy vehicles should pay much more than diesels. Motor bikes should pay very low rates or potentially be exempt.
- Black cabs and other private hire vehicles should NOT be exempt unless they meet the above standards
- MOST IMPORTANTLY - charging should be on a *per-mile* basis NOT a flat rate, particularly if the boundary is expanded to the North and South circular roads. A flat rate based on vehicle age only discriminates unreasonably against those who drive an older car occasionally for very few miles in London, or solely to get out of the zone, against lower-income drivers and pensioners who cannot afford to replace an older car with one that meets the standards, and most importantly does not levy the charge proportionately to the pollution caused (it does not incentivise high mileage drivers of newer cars, which will still pollute more overall than low mileage drivers of older cars, to drive fewer miles or buy an electric or plug in hybrid car, for example, as they pay nothing to drive in the zone)
- residents and those outside the zone who cannot drive out of their homes without crossing the boundary should get a discount, as with the congestion charge, especially if the zone is expanded to the North and South circular roads as this will affect a huge number of people compared to the existing congestion charge zone

Finally if the zone is to be expanded to the North and South circular roads, it should not be done in 2020 as this is too soon to give the very large number of people affected time to consider their options. Buying a new(er) car is a major financial decision for most people and given the current economic uncertainty following the Brexit vote, may not be possible for many households if they are uncertain of their job security and income over the next few years.