London Toxicity Charge welcomed

Commenting on the start today (Monday 23 October) of the London Toxicity Charge (T-Charge) where older, more polluting vehicles will have to pay to enter central London, Friends of the Earth air pollution campaigner Jenny Bates said: 

“Clearly the last thing individuals want is a new charge for moving around, but the grim reality is that nearly 10,000 early deaths are caused in London each year by the capital’s toxic air, so the Mayor is right to try to dissuade drivers bringing the oldest, dirtiest vehicles into central London. 

“It’s only one small step towards clean air though – we urgently need a programme of meaningful financial assistance to help drivers of the dirtiest vehicles switch to something cleaner, and bold policies to cut traffic over all.

“The upcoming Ultra Low Emissions Zone should be introduced sooner than planned, cover all London, and apply to cars, not just vans and HGVs. Crucially, the whole scheme must be underpinned by real world testing - not flawed and discredited lab tests.

“If he’s really serious about tackling London’s pollution crisis, the Mayor mustn’t add to the problem with new road-building in the capital.”