Dear Sir
 
The Proposed London Low Emission Zone

By 2nd February, Londoners will know whether or not Mayor Livingstone intends to go ahead and introduce the proposed, and much talked about, London Low Emission Zone.

The Road Haulage Association considers it to be a great a pity that so little informed debate has taken place and even less meaningful facts and figures have been published to give the general public the opportunity to consider the proposal and its true impact on London’s daily life. There have been two consultations but neither has included any positive comments regarding the type of vehicle to be targeted by the Zone, nor has mention has been made of the fact that the only types of vehicles that are to be penalised when entering Greater London from 2008 are those that actually offer services to Londoners that cannot be provided by any other means. 

The Mayor has allowed Transport for London to carry out a marketing campaign to ensure his proposal gets the public support he desperately craves. At best, the supporting publications and radio advertisements that TfL have used in their campaign over the last 12 months can only be described as misleading and lacking in true content and substance.

It is quite astonishing that the Mayor of London has agreed to the publication of a consultation questionnaire that asks questions such as: do you want to see the most polluting vehicles stopped from entering London? without any explanation of the accompanying statement that it is commercial vehicles that are to blame for all your health problems! Yet no mention is made of the fact that emissions from commercial goods vehicles have voluntarily been reduced by 90% over the last ten years and that commercial goods vehicles make up just 4% of the total traffic movements in Greater London on any average day.

The improved health of Londoners is obviously an emotive issue and it is impossible to argue against any scheme that delivers major and quantifiable health benefits. The proposed London LEZ offers no such evidence.

However, if we DO see the London LEZ imposed, there will be a huge negative impact on many small and medium size businesses that presently carry out their trade within Greater London and with London based companies. Not just goods vehicles operators, but also the local tradesmen who use diesel vans to move their tools to earn a living.

If you really want to help Greater London prosper and you are prepared to make your own decision rather than being persuaded into believing that others know best then it still not too late. You still have time to find out find the truth about how much this expensive proposal from the Mayor will really benefit you and your family just ask Transport for London for proof of the benefits that a London LEZ will bring.

The London Low Emission Zone DONT have your mind made up for you!
 

Roger King

Chief Executive
Road Haulage Association Limited