New London Mayor Sadiq Khan is planning to get tough on older diesel vehicles in the capital.
Just days after Khan took office, his office says there is likely to be a new £12.50 daily additional charge on top of the congestion charge, so some drivers could have to pay up to £24 per day to drive in London if they have high NOx emissions vehicles.
Fleets should look carefully at new London mayor Sadiq Khan’s clean air proposals because they could form a blueprint for how vehicles are targeted in other major UK cities, says Chevin.
Policy suggestions announced include a vastly-extended ultra-low emissions zone, extra charges for the most polluting vehicles and the promotion of a scrappage scheme.
Ashley Sowerby, managing director at fleet management software specialist Chevin, said that similar air quality problems to London affected many other places in the UK and the solutions adopted by politicians were likely to serve as a model for other conurbations.
“An estimated 10,000 deaths a year in London are caused by poor air quality so there is a definite impetus to take decisive action to fight the problem.
“The proposals we have seen from Sadiq, subject to public consultation, are much more decisive than anything else we have seen suggested to date and will undoubtedly raise the whole profile of the subject of air pollution.
“If adopted, they will create pressure on other cities to make similar moves, which is something that will affect more and more fleets over the next few years.
“A key point to note is that the new suggestions are envisaged as happening much more quickly than previous ideas for London. The additional congestion charge could happen in 2017 and the extended emissions zone by 2019.”
Ashley pointed to the recent naming of the UK’s first four Go Ultra Low cities – Nottingham, Bristol, Milton Keynes and London – as evidence of a general trend towards central and local government working to improve air quality.
