Mayor of London to introduce Ultra Low Emission Zone in 2019

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has set a date for the introduction of the ultra low emission zone in the capital.

From 8 April 2019, the heaviest polluting cars, vans and motorbikes will have to pay £12.50 to enter central London, while buses, coaches and HGVs will have to hand over £100.

The charge will hit drivers of petrol cars that do not meet Euro 4 standards and diesel vehicles that do not meet Euro 6 standards.

Mr Khan said: “I want to expand the ULEZ from 2020 for heavy vehicles such as buses, coaches and lorries so that all of London will benefit from cleaner air. Then from 2021, I want to expand it up to the North and South Circular roads for light vehicles, including cars and vans. These measures will help improve the air that millions of Londoners breathe.

“I want to announce my intention to consult on these proposals in good time so that business and those affected by new charges will have time to make changes they need to adapt to our low emission requirements.

“Now I urge the Government to step up and match my ambition to transform the appalling air we breathe. Ministers need to deliver a national vehicle scrappage fund, reform fiscal incentives like vehicle excise duty and pass a powerful new Clean Air Act to Act end the toxic smog in London once and for all.”

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) described the announcement as “troubling” for small businesses and specialist hauliers serving the capital.

Natalie Chapman, FTA’s Head of Policy for London and the South East said: “We need to continue the improvement in London’s air quality which is happening anyway, but this regulation taking effect in 2019 will severely disadvantage small businesses working in the capital’s centre.

“The impact will be especially hard for van users, as by 2019 there will only be two and a half years’ worth of compliant vehicles in the fleet – and no second hand compliant vehicles available for purchase at all.”

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