The major public consultation has been launched today (5 July) on the 60th anniversary of the Clean Air Act to help end London's 'public health emergency'.
The changes would see the implementation of a £10 Emissions Surcharge (dubbed the ‘T-charge’) on the most polluting vehicles entering central London from 2017. The charge would apply to all vehicles with pre-Euro 4 emission standards and will cost an extra £10 per day on top of the existing Congestion Charge.
Mr Khan is also proposing introducing the central London Ultra-Low Emission Zone one year earlier in 2019 and then extending the zoen beyond central London from 2020: for motorcycles, cars and vans, to the North and South Circular; and for lorries, buses and coaches London-wide.
The plans also include developing a detailed proposal for a national diesel scrappage scheme for Government to implement.
The Mayor added that the scheme would be the toughest crackdown on the most polluting vehicles by any major city around the world.
Mr Khan said: “With nearly 10,000 people dying early every year in London due to exposure to air pollution, cleaning up London’s toxic air is now an issue of life and death.
“The scale of the failure to tackle the problem is demonstrated by the failure of the Government and the previous Mayor to meet legal pollution limits. Urgent action is now needed to ensure Londoners no longer have to fear the very air we breathe.”
The FTA has previously expressed concerns over the Mayor's plans. Speaking at the time of their first announcement, Christopher Snelling – FTA’s head of national and regional policy, said: “It should be remembered that air quality has already improved substantially in the Capital, and will continue to improve further – even if London does nothing. These disruptive proposals will at best only accelerate the situation that is likely in a few years from now. They will put businesses at risk, and add massive costs to all – especially to those who need the services that vans provide.
“Freight operators and the service industry could find themselves being charged extra for their vehicles before they have had any reasonable chance to upgrade. Many businesses could lose trade first in central London, then the whole of inner London – and for businesses based in the zones involved, the impacts will be even worse.”
“If we are to avoid increasing costs for consumers, businesses will need significant financial help to adopt these standards this early. It is imperative that the Mayor looks at carrots as well as sticks.”
To view the consultation, visit www.london.gov.uk/cleanair
