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Britain 'facing £300m fine' after Mayor shelves pollution plans
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor15.04.09
THE Mayor's decision to shelve anti- pollution measures and curb the congestion charge could leave Britain facing a £300million EU fine, ministers fear.
The Evening Standard has learned that Environment Secretary Hilary Benn is concerned the UK could be hit hard, after Boris Johnson said he would delay the latest phase of the low emission zone.
The zone, introduced last year by Ken Livingstone, aims to cut potentially life-threatening pollution by charging motorists who drive the dirtiest vehicles in London, encouraging them to switch to new, greener models.
Buses, coaches and heavy lorries which do not meet emissions standards are hit with a £200 daily charge, or a £1,000 daily fine for an unpaid charge.
A further stage to the scheme was due to start in October next year. It would have affected 90,000 smaller vehicles, including vans and minibuses, with high polluters facing a £100 charge, or a £500 penalty if the charge were not paid.
But Mr Johnson has announced a delay to spare businesses from extra costs in the recession, which he fears could tip small operators into bankruptcy.
Brussels has already warned the UK about its failure to limit dangerous air pollution from traffic and industry.
Britain has applied for an extension that would give it until 2011 to meet EU standards - but the application specifically refers to the western extension of the congestion charge, which the Mayor has decided to scrap, and the low emission zone.
"We know Brussels is concerned about this and so are we," one Whitehall source said. Greater London Authority lawyers are being consulted on whether ministers could reverse the Mayor's policies.
Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green London Assembly Members have passed a motion urging Mr Johnson to go on with the emission zone. Darren Johnson, for the Greens, called the Mayor's decision "reckless and irresponsible".
Labour's transport spokeswoman on the Assembly, Val Shawcross, said: "Boris's complete lack of interest in tackling London's poor air quality is damaging children's health and now undermining Britain's international credibility.
"That the Government might take back Boris's powers is about as serious an indictment of his mayoralty as you can get. I'm not surprised they don't trust him on this."
The Mayor insists he is committed to cutting pollution. He has written to Business Secretary Lord Mandelson proposing a subsidy scheme for replacing the oldest, most polluting light goods vehicles.
He also believes that rephasing traffic lights, cutting roadworks delays and getting more people to cycle will improve air quality.
Reader views (30)
Perhaps we should politely tell the EU where they can stick their £300M fine? After all, our French, German and Italian neighbours ignore EU diktats all the time, when it suits them.
Remember British beef being banned by France and Germany even after the EU stated it was safe? Or German and French energy companies snapping up UK energy interests while protected in their own home markets? Or the huge government subsidies to Air France and Alitalia in breach of EU rules?
Time to take control of the UK back from Brussels and control of England from Scottish Labour.
- Stephen, London
How about we withdraw from the EU so we can govern our own country. Stop letting others tell us what to do. We are English and proud, So stand up to the EU and get our country back.
- Paul Watson, Feltham, England
On another page it says Boris has been cleared of swearing at MP's. A standards committee decided "in itself the term ******** is not disrespectful". If that's the case I think every man, woman and child should meet up on the south coast and shout '********' to the £300 million fine. If we're loud enough they should hear that in Brussels hopefully.
- Jj, London
Energy Performance Certificates that were forced upon us along with Hips are another Gov. green spin supposed save the world product that in fact are nothing more than 6 or 7 pages (how many trees destroyed to print a million or so EPC to say nothing all the extra travel the producers have to do in visiting the property) of meaningless rubbish where by spending lord know how much you can go from a D rating to a higher greener A B or C one. Anyone know what rest of Europe are doing about these as it was set in stone by Brussels that by 2009 all EEC had them in place but as far as I know its only Brown and his loonies that have forced it on us and partially caused the housing market downfall and despite his own working party saying forget Hips he went ahead, or at least his many feemale ministers that have been in this role over the last few years did.
- Mike, London England
In my opinion the mayor is just pandering to those living in affluent south west boroughs of the city, with two or more cars per family, who never use public transport and could probably easily, in most cases, stump up for the congestion charge.
- Mark, Venice, Italy
The EU can try and fine the UK, but as the UK is a net contributor to the EU we can refuse to pay and they can do little about it.
The same rationale should apply to the supposed "fines" for not meeting another spurious EU target - recycling -but unfortunately Brown and his cabal don't have the backbone to stand up to the EU - it might destroy his career prospects once he and his corrupt Govt gets rejected at the next election
- Egbert Nobacon, Essex
When on earth are the people of this country going to wake up? The handsome prince isn't going to come and wake you all up with a little kiss on your cheek. The only prince you are all likely to see is Price Gordon, who will wake you up with a slap in the face, so hard at the next budget, that you'll be lucky if you ever recover from it.
A poster on here says "UK government was relying on these measures to help meet EU air quality targets". As you are not likely to wake up, I suggest you dream on, if you really believe such crap. The same poster goes on to say "it's about public health. Surely that should concern all of us?" Is this the same "government" which worries so much about public health that they are building more runways at Heathrow? Is the same government who allowed Obama to fly in to our country with an entourage of 500 people and the biggest gas guzzler in the world, in tow?
Pull the other one my friend, this is not about anything other than money, money, money.
- Peter Thurgood, London SE13
The filters fitted to buses and some taxis do remove the bulk of particulate pollution from their exhaust gasses, but they do not remove other by-products of combustion (such as CO2).
It has recently been revealed that "green waving" (the triggering of successive green traffic lights by traffic flow at or slightly below the speed limit) has, up until now, been banned by NuLiebour in order to increase congestion so as to increase fuel useage and fuel tax-take. In other words- a real solution to congestion and pollution was outlawed in the interests of increasing the use of pollution-producing fossil fuel so that Greedy McBroon could fleece us all of even more of our hard earned cash.
This fact illustrates perfectly the duplicity of this deranged government's "green" tax lies and proves, beyond reasonable doubt, that congestion charging is all about revenue raising and nothing else.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
C May of Biggin Hill - how do you get to the Croydon tram then? It doesn't run to Biggin Hill so is it by car or bus? It's too far to walk from BH to the nearest tram stop and it's also pretty hilly so a bike isn't really feasible either! Such measures as trams are great, as afar as they go, but of course they don't actually remove any pollution on a gross basis, they just move it!
- Steve P, Croydon
Let's get the facts right at least.
The older diesel-powered buses are all fitted with exhaust after treatment systems that make them 'cleaner' (lower particulate) than many brand new vehicles, including CNG. Many of the taxis have also been retrofitted with emissions abatement equipment.
The first two phases of the London LEZ dealt with trucks, buses and coaches. The extension of the LEZ to LCVs in 2010 would have dealt with the next major cause for concern.
UK government was relying on these measures to help meet EU air quality targets. It's not about fines - it's about public health. Surely that should concern all of us.
- Mike, Linconshire
No-one has mentioned the obvious cause of pollution: too many people in too little space. Yet government policy is to pack more people into London and into England generally. The green belt is being sacrificed, John Prescott let the cat out of the bag eleven years ago when he said it was Labour policy to build on it.
- Gadfly, Norwich, England
Time we got rid of this clown of a Mayor.
Once again it is noticeable that the people who actually live in London want to see pollution reduced and a reduction to the number of cars in Central London.
The majority of people supporting Boris do not have to breath in the results of Boris's pro-car policy.
As for taking away all subsidies from public transport, even the Conservatives would think twice about such a ridicolous policy. All London buses are fitted with anti-pollution devices, unlike the majority of the older cars which are used for people's daily commute.
- Andrew, London W1
Time we got out of the undemocratic and unaccountable EU.
We wanted a common market, not a political monster that is stifling our country with its burden of taxation and regulation.
And whilst the greenies spew this anti-Boris propaganda they still want buses to replace cars when it is the bus producing most of the pollution.
Take away ALL subsidies for public transport and make it stand or fail on its own merits. Then we might see a better service dedicated to servicing the customer instead of surviving on handouts.
Boris is doing what other politicians have forgotten. He is listening to the people who elected him and working for them - not some skewed political agenda dictated by pressure groups and the European Union.
Good on Boris, if only there were more like him.
- Peter Sims, UK
The EU pollution limits (which concern pollution almost entirely from diesel engines) were made law years ago. Livingstone did nothing about reducing the number of heavy diesel vehicles in central London. Indeed, he helped ensure London's 8000-strong bus fleet remained diesel-powered, while most world cities have switched to compressed gas power for public transport.
Moreover, London's 21,000 strong black cab fleet are among the most polluting vehicles on the capitals roads. Livingstone spent most of his time crowing about CO2 reductions. There is no EU law against CO2 levels - and CO2 does not affect the health of Londoners.
This story is simply the government (which has been in for 12 years) trying to blame Boris - and a mere 90,000 smaller commercial vehicles - for the 125+ miles of road in London that do not meet safe EU pollution limits. And remember we've got Ken's LEZ and we're still over the EU limits.
If you want to blame anybody, blame Livingstone for ignoring the problems of diesel pollution over his eight years in office.
- J H Holloway, London
C May, biggin hill. Maybe learn to write properly before posting your half-baked opinions on a public site. As for any EU fines, lets show it the same contempt that the US (and countless others) show Red Ken's car tax / con.charge.
- Colin, London
Val Shawcross's comments merely indicate how little concern Labour has for businesss. bors hasn't cancelled it; he's delayed it, for reasons fo the recession. Oh, and who is responsible for that recession, Val? - it's your party and your prime minister that is.
- Robert, Chiswick, UK
We got rid of Ken because he was ripping us off with these 'green' taxes. Pollution is such a hyped buzzword, anyone remember the 1950s when the air really was thick and black? We survived, we carried on to work and didn't worry about a little cough stopping us. People today just need to toughen up and stop falling for the 'climate change' nonsense. Come on Boris, tell those EU lot to leave us alone.
- Frankie, Clapton
Bugger Brussels
- Kedge, marlboro wilts
TFL had to admit that the extended Kengestion charge zone had no discernible affect on air pollution. I would like to know how much of the extra pollution has come from the extra buses Mayor Ken laid on.
Also, as petrol fuelled vehicles have become a lot cleaner, how much the shift to diesel (encouraged by Gordon's greed for higher fuel duty) has been a factor?
- Jools, London
Its amazing how selective our Govt is in implementing EU policy. If it means they can raise taxes or impose fines then that's ok. If it means we have to cut our working hours each week then that gets vetoed.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
Referendum on getting out of EU please.
- Grim Reaper, Hell
Just do like the French, don't pay the fine
- Francis, Farnborough, UK
Well thanks for making us all a bit poorer Boris
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Unlike Frank and his irrelevant sidetracking, I want clean air. I don't see why Boris's delaying tactics should compromise that, nor result in my taxes being used to pay unnecessary and avoidable fines.
- Austen, London
should never have voted ken out big mistake. far to many cars in london with one person in when extended c charge zone is scrapped 30 000 cars a day will be in this area get your pollution masks ready folks we need tram systems in london the croydon tram system is superb use the tram to croydon now never the car
- C May, biggin hill
Boris said he'd plant trees and green roofs which soak up pollution so I don't know why he is to blame. If we didn't have the Olympics we wouldn't have half of London a building site which must be contributing to the dirt in the air.
- Kimberley, London
That's ok for you Frank of the Home Counties! Some of us live in London rather than drive through it, we want clean air.
- Steve, Hackney, London
Frank, you're missing the point- these vehicles spew nasty stuff, and London (unlike the Home Counties) already has enough trouble with pollution and congestion. I want my children to be able to walk around our beautiful city without wearing gas masks...
- Edw, London
As Frank has pointed out, we are the ONLY country in the EU that would even contemplate paying this fine. The EUromonster has done nothing for this country; membership alone, thanks to the exponential rise in bureacracy and red tape, costs us upwards of £140 million per DAY (Taxpayers Alliance figures).
The only people who benefit in the long term are politicians. This burgeoning Soviet Empire gives them ever increasing power, with ever decreasing democratic accountability.
It is not the Common Market sold to us on a pack of lies by Heath, it is a political union. Most of us no this and oppose it, which is why Soviet Labour have denied the promised referendum on the Lisbon Constitutional Treaty, a self amending treaty that will be the last ever EUropean treaty and spell the end of EUropean democracy.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
Like any of the other countries in the EU would bother paying the fines?!
France alone owes millions in fines. One most notably for not allowing the import of British beef, whilst at the same time placing their own citizens in danger by covering up their internal problems with BSE.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
