LEZ reprieve for larger van operators
Vehicles affected by the deferred phase of the LEZ are those between 1.205 tonnes unladen and 3.5 tonnes GVW, as well as specialist vehicles derived from vans. If they do not meet the required emissions standard, they will be charged £100 a day to drive within the LEZ – or face a £500 penalty. "The move to January 2012 gives the owners and operators of around 70,000 non-compliant vehicles an extra 15 months to ensure they meet the new standards," Nick Fairholme, the acting director of congestion charging and traffic enforcement, said. Road transport emissions are the largest source of particulate matter pollution in London, according to Nick Fairholme, with larger vans responsible for 21% of these emissions and 10% of oxides of nitrogen. The number of larger vans is also forecast to grow 30% by 2031.
|
From 2012 larger vans and minibuses must meet a Euro III standard for particulate matter in order to drive, free of charge, in the Low Emission Zone. 
