There’s just over a year until 25 October 2021, when the existing central London Ultra-Low Emisssion Zone (ULEZ) will expand out to the North and South Circular roads. Transport for London (TfL) has launched a marketing campaign to educate and inform Londoners about what this means for them, and what – if anything they need to do to prepare.
Since its introduction in April 2019, the central ULEZ has cut emissions of nitrogen oxide from road transport by 35 per cent. However, many parts of inner and outer London also suffer from serious air pollution with levels now returning to pre-pandemic levels.
The expansion of the ULEZ was always part of the London Mayor’s Air Quality plan, announced in 2018. Four in five cars already meet the ULEZ emissions requirements. The owners of older polluting cars, vans and other specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes), minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes) and motorbikes that do not meet the ULEZ emissions standards now just over a year to consider alternatives such as replacing their vehicle or other transport options.
A scrappage scheme for small businesses to replace older, more polluting vans ran from February 2019 to August of this year, the scheme remains open to charities with minibuses which don’t meet the ULEZ emissions standards.
Launched at the end of September is a scheme designed to help small businesses and charities upgrade heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight (and buses/coaches over 5 tonnes GVW) to meet the Euro VI requirements of the tightened emissions standards which will come into force on 1 March next year.
See the ULEZ information on the BVRLA website.
