Those who do not meet European standards will have to pay as much as £200 a day when they go into the Greater London Area, delimited by the M25.
Free circulation for cars
Transport for London (TfL) clarified that the vehicles affected by the bill are older diesel-engine lorries, buses, coaches, large vans, minibuses, motor caravans and motorised horse boxes.
This scheme will be applied progressively until 2012, and it will not include motorcycles or cars, which are “a major source of pollutants”, according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA).
The charging system will be enforced using automatic number plate reading cameras installed across London.
The devices will keep record of the vehicles, identified later by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) database according to the type of engine and the emissions category.
Effects on the transport sector
The Freight Transport Association estimates that around 10,000 lorries operating in London may breach the minimum standard, reports BBC.
The FTA has made it clear that the £200 access permit is “not proportionate to the number of miles travelled within the zone” and has pointed out that the scheme might lead some sectors to reconsider operating in London “economically unviable”.
Also, the association has raised concerns about the difficulties of enforcing the scheme in foreign operators, who are likely to “gain competitive advantage whilst continuing to use polluting vehicles”.
Benefits for citizens
According to AFP, supporters of the new scheme, claims that it will deliver 16 percent reduction in the harmful emissions in the most polluted areas by 2012 and cut healthcare bills by 250 million pounds.
