If motorists believed that the implementation of The Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) and the Clear Air Zone (CAZ) wouldn’t cause a diversion in their journeys, the City of London have gone one step further with a trial that bans petrol and diesel cars, a shakeup that could leave many with nowhere to turn.
The City of London has chosen to carry out a trial which sees petrol and diesel cars banned from particular streets.
The only motors authorised to travel on these proposed “low emissions” streets are hybrid and electric cars.
This measure has been taken to ensure that air pollution is significantly reduced, epitomising the capital’s air pollution predicament and the urgency to operate in the heart of London.
The City of London’s air quality manager Ruth Calderwood has said:
“What we realise is the Ultra Low Emission Zone won’t be quite enough for us to meet the limit values, so we are going to have to look at additional measures at our busiest roadsides”.
The City of London is now attributed as one of the hotspots for nitrogen dioxide pollution in the UK. While there have been several policies introduced to ease the harm caused by air pollution, the Square Mile’s levels of nitrogen dioxide have been beyond legal limits since 2010.
This pilot study begins only eight months prior to the launch of the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone. Set to begin in April 2019, the ruling will place a daily charge on motorists if their vehicles are not compliant with the emissions standard.
Outside the City of London, the boroughs of Hackney and Islington have already enforced this scheme since the beginning of September, ruling that drivers would be fined for using any vehicle other than an electric or hybrid model through the listed routes of Hackney and Islington during peak hours.
Only vehicles which produce less than 75g/km CO2 are authorised to use the routes during that period. Any driver caught by the on-street cameras breaching these rules will be given a £130 fine.
The times for these restrictions will be from 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm on weekdays, on the following roads: Blackall Street, Cowper Street, Paul Street, Tabernacle Street, Ravey Street, Singer Street, Willow Street, Charlotte Road and Rivington Street.
Exemptions are in place for residents and business with on-street parking permits or an off-street parking space, blue badge holders, emergency services and waste collection vehicles.
“Islington and Hackney have seized the opportunity to give people a really strong message about taking pollution seriously and to show the scale of London’s health emergency.”
Caroline Russell, Islington Green Party councillor and London Assembly member.
Is this just the beginning for ultra-low emissions roads?
It is rumoured that the next petrol and diesel ban will be rolled out in Moor Lane. If these proposals are a success, it won’t be long until policymakers throughout the UK begin to look at the potential of introducing similar measures.