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Retailers back stricter emission zone
David Williams16 Jan 2012
A tough new "Berlin-style" low emission zone for central London is being demanded by business leaders.
The New West End Company - which represents 600 shops in Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street - is seeking Boris Johnson's backing for the plan, which would ban the worst-polluting vehicles over 3.5 tonnes from the congestion charging zone.
The proposals would exclude many more vehicles from central London than the Mayor's LEZ by insisting on "cleaner" engines and exhausts. The New West End Company's scheme is modelled on one in Berlin where red and green windscreen stickers show whether or not a vehicle meets exhaust emissions standards. Drivers who ignore the rules are fined €40 and get one point on their licence.
The NWEC wants a similar clampdown in London where, it says, traffic congestion and pollution threaten to "seriously impact on the future health and prosperity of the West End".
It is calling for the scheme to start in May next year, with enforcement by traffic wardens and police. Private drivers caught flouting the rules would be fined £20 and have one point on their licence.
Corporate offenders would face fines of £1,000 per day.
Richard Dickinson, NWEC chief executive officer, said: "Berlin's scheme works and it is in operation. It would clean up (London's) air quite quickly."
Campaign group Clean Air in London, advising the business organisation, said the Berlin scheme had a compliance rate of about 90 per cent.
Reader views (2)
'windscreen stickers show whether or not a vehicle meets exhaust emissions standards'
They have stickers on minicabs, how many illegal ones work everyday and night, how can you stop them when they forge these stickers everyday?
- Ed, London, 16/01/2012 15:03
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Step in right direction but car-free zone 1 is what London should aim for. Would make it a world-city leader.
- Meg Howarth, United Kingdom, 16/01/2012 11:11
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