The announcement that the phase three of London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will be suspended two days before the controversial program to reduce emissions of the first anniversary has been warmly welcomed by the industry body of the Freight Transport Association (FTA) . The third phase of the scheme - which involved a small commercial vehicles under the LEZ regulations - will now face public consultation and should be abandoned because of concerns about its cost to industry and small businesses.
Gordon Telling, FTA’s Head of Policy for London, said:
“City Hall has listened to industry and the free trade agreement and considered this unpopular and ill-conceived scheme, which amounted to little more than window dressing. The LEZ is very little especially because many of emissions compliant vehicles are already operating in and around London. Unfortunately, the cost to businesses - and Londoners - is far from being little. ”
The LEZ was launched on February 4 last year to reduce emissions in the capital, but he left the local people and businesses with a large bill to pay and very little improvement in the quality of air.
Telling continued:
“LEZ benefits have been overestimated, the difference in price that goes with it. Taxpayers’ money was wasted in advertising, signage and cameras to catch a few more, the most polluting lorries. The cost of this finding was approximately 50 million pounds in total costs and another £ 10 million in annual operating costs. At least now, the damage was limited and we can begin to consider a more intelligent emission reductions in the capital without being more companies into bankruptcy. ”
Bringing vehicles meet the standards required of business has already cost about 40 million pounds sterling. It is feared that if the green light was given to extend the scheme to include vans, thousands of small businesses, including builders, electricians, plumbers, florists and vegetables, which have face punishment costs. Many were driven out of business simply because they could not afford the cost of modification, which can reach £ 5000, or replace their vehicles.
The FTA argued that recognition of the freight operator Scheme (FORS) - a unique, industry-led membership scheme which aims to transform the delivery of cargo to London - it will be a more effective way to reduce London LEZ emissions than the priority of best practices, including procedures to reduce the impact of transport on the environment. However, the potential LEZ actually diverted funds from the purchase of cleaner vehicles that have been produced by commercial vehicle operators to encourage adoption of electric, hybrid and cleaner, the highest standard Euro (Euro 5) vehicles.