Transport for London’s (TfL) consultation on the upcoming Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) comes to a close on Sunday, December 18.
The ULEZ, which is expected to come into force in September 2020 but could be brought forward to 2019, will operate 24/7 across the area of London covered by the current Congestion Charging Zone. It is expected to require all diesel engine vehicles to meet Euro 6 emission levels.
However, the area affected could be expanded to cover the entirety of London for heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches as early as 2019, and possibly as far as the North and South Circular roads. Any vehicle not meeting the standards will need to pay a charge to use the road network, or face a penalty fine instead.
The London Mayor is considering pushing the ULEZ plans forward as part of his plans to tackle poor air quality in the city. While the city currently meets legal limits for most air pollutants, it does not for Nitrogen Dioxide (NOx) which can affect public health. Particulate Matter (PM) has also been raised as a concern, as ‘there are no safe limits for PM2.5.’ Around 9,400 deaths per year can be attributed to air quality related illnesses.
Operators who have not yet responded to the consultation should visit www.tfl.gov.uk/airquality-consultation to have their say on the draft of the ULEZ legislation before the deadline passes at the end of this week.
