A north London borough will soon charge residents with diesel vehicles for parking permits in a bid to improve local air quality.
Islington Council argues diesel vehicles can emit 20 times more particulate matter than petrol vehicles, which have been linked to cancer, heart disease, lung damage and other health problems.
The council has approved a yearly £96 surcharge for resident parking permits on diesel vehicles, which will begin in April.
Vehicles used by carers and trades people, alongside taxis, will be among those exempt from the bill.
Islington was the capital’s first borough to enforce 20mph restrictions on its roads and has raised pressure on London mayor Boris Johnson to do more to slow speeds and tackle pollution.
Mr Johnson is currently consulting on plans to raise particulate restrictions in the centre of the city through an Ultra Low Emissions Zone by 2020, while accelerated introduction of low emission buses saw 300 operating in the capital at the end of last year.
Islington Council's executive member for environment and transport, Cllr Claudia Webbe, said: ‘We're committed to improving air quality in Islington, and diesel fumes are a major cause of air pollution.
‘Pollutants in diesel exhausts have been linked to heart and lung diseases, which are major causes of serious and long-term health issues and even death in Islington, and the surcharge will encourage a move away from diesel.
‘We also need the mayor of London to do his share, especially replacing high-polluting buses and tackling polluting lorries that travel through our streets.’
