The newly-elected Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has outlined plans for a ‘major’ package of measures to tackle air pollution in the capital. The proposals include the possibility of bringing forward the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone to begin earlier than 2020, as well as potentially extending its reach to the North and South Circular road. The new Mayor promised to consult on potentially re-drawing the plans, as well as a raft of other measures to tackle air pollution, which it is claimed is linked to the deaths of up to 10,000 Londoners every year.
As well as changes to the ULEZ, the Mayor’s consultation will also include proposals to increase the congestion charge for the most polluting vehicles, and a crackdown on emissions from heavy goods vehicles which would see ULEZ standards to apply to HGVs London-wide from 2020. The plans would also see the Mayor give the go-ahead for Transport for London (TfL) to assess the costs and benefits of a diesel scrappage scheme – as well as introducing ULEZ standards for double decker buses, introducing ‘clean bus corridors’ and expanding the retrofit programme to ensure 3,000 buses outside of the centre of the city meet the Euro VI standard.
Southdowns Environmental Consultants offer air quality services including air quality dispersion modelling assessments for planning, occupational diesel exhaust exposure surveys and emissions testing.
