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A haulage firm has expressed concern about the financial burden being placed on operators ahead of the new London Low Emission Zone (LEZ). Ian Gordon, managing director at Basildon-based Gordon Transport, says "many UK companies" could be forced to close due to the cost of modifying vehicles to comply with the Transport for London (TfL) operated scheme, from February 2008. Under the LEZ, a non-compliant truck or van, typically below Euro-3 standard, almost anywhere within the M25 could face a  daily charge of £200. To escape the charge, vehicles must be retrofitted with a particulate filter costing between £3,000 to £6,000 per vehicle to fit. Gordon says: "My eight non-compliant vehicles could cost about £32,000 to modify.

"Gordon Transport vehicles currently enter the proposed LEZ an average of 25 times a week so paying the daily charge of £200 would not be an option for the firm and nor would replacing all the firm's eight non-compliant vehicles with newer models. There also doesn't appear to be proper systems in place to monitor foreign vehicles properly."

Only military vehicles, non-road going vehicles, historic vehicles and showman's vehicles are entitled to discounts or exemptions from the scheme. Jack Semple, Road Haulage Association (RHA) director of policy says: "Although the mayor appears intent on introducing [the scheme], we are keen to see further exemptions." TfL will introduce new automatic number plate recognition cameras to enforce the system and  use type approval data to show an engine's emissions are acceptable. A European debt recovery agency will serve notices to recover penalties incurred by non-UK registered vehicles. A TfL spokesman says the organisation's LEZ economic impact assessment had concluded the impact of the scheme on the haulage sector would be minimal.