The mayor of London has recommitted himself to introducing the third phase of the low-emission zone (LEZ), but has delayed its roll out until two years after initially planned.
Critics have expressed their anger at the ‘unnecessary’ delay, which could restrict the capital’s ability to meet European Union air quality targets.
Revealing his draft air quality strategy, Boris Johnson said the scheme – covering larger vans and minibuses – would be introduced in 2012. He added that phase four would be introduced the same year to require European emission standards for HGVs, buses and coaches.
The mayor’s U-turn follows his announcement in February that phase three would be postponed, due to the ‘detrimental impact’ it would have on businesses (Surveyor, 2 February 2009).
London Assembly Green Party member, Darren Johnson, said the delay made no sense. He told Surveyor: ‘The mayor’s air quality strategy does not do the job. Waiting until 2012 to implement the next stage of the LEZ would be leaving it too late. It is needed now.’
Murad Qureshi, Labour’s environment spokesman on the London Assembly, blamed the mayor’s indecision for the delay. ‘We know thousands of people die prematurely every year in London because of our poor air, so this is a two-year wait we can ill-afford,’ he said.
The mayor described the delay as a reprieve for small businesses and individuals who would be hit hardest by the measure. He said he was taking ‘robust steps’ to tackle emissions but needed policy support from the Government.
The strategy also included plans to introduce an age limit for taxis, and working with boroughs to establish air quality ‘hotspots’, where hedges and trees could be planted along roads to deflect and soak up emissions. It also detailed proposals to put in place air quality action days and ‘special measures’, which would focus on traffic management.
But, the report also conceded that the ‘scale and scope of action will inevitably be dependent on the resources available’.
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