An open letter to London's Mayor Boris Johnson about the cancelation of Phase Three of the London Low Emission Zone.
Dear Boris
I am writing to you to express my disappointment at your decision to scrap Phase Three of the Low Emission Zone which is aimed at small businesses. By scrapping this phase of the scheme you will undermine the progress that has been made towards improving air quality in London in Phases One and Two of the Low Emission Zone.
I agree with you that small businesses need help to get through the recession. However I do not believe that what you have proposed is the right solution.
It would make much more sense to retain Phase Three of the Low Emission Zone and to give small businesses a financial incentive to replace their old vehicles with newer, more environmentally friendly models.
More than a thousand Londoners die each year because of the effects of air pollution. As you presumably know Camden and many other London councils are in contravention of the EU Air Quality Directive with regard to particulates (PM 10, PM 2.5) and noxious emissions (NO2). That is primarily because of the use of diesel in the capital.
Local authorities have very little power to deal with the problem of diesel emissions. The London-wide Low Emission Zone is the best weapon we have in the fight for better air quality. Rather than weaken it I would urge you to supplement it with incentives to change behaviour such as I have suggested.
Please reconsider your decision, help small businesses to comply with the Low Emission Zone, and keep us on the road to a London where we can all breathe more easily.
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