News

Plans to establish London as a clean air capital with the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) were looking doubtful this week when it emerged that old Euro 1 and Euro 2 vehicles will meet the minimum standards. The embarrassing revelation for Transport for London (TfL) has been compounded by it now having to pay VOSA to recruit staff to carry out annual 'smoke meter' tests of LGVs up to 14-years-old to check they meet the LEZ standard. Manufacturers are being asked to undertake a painstaking process of calculating  how many vehicles are affected.

London mayor Ken Livingstone set the minimum engine standard for commercial vehicles entering the LEZ at Euro 3 from February 2008. But an unknown quantity of Euro 1 and Euro 2 models meet the standard for particulate matter. Their NOx emissions are worse, but there is no LEZ standard for this. Industry trade associations are furious at TfL's "laughable" handling of the scheme and the increasing involvement of VOSA. Jack Semple, RHA policy director says: "VOSA is supposed to be serving lorry operators, not engaging in schemes of question-able value."

The RHA is now writing to transport minister Stephen Ladyman seeking clarification of VOSA's position with respect to the LEZ. But VOSA says: "[Euro 1 and 2 vehicles] would still need to be put through a test," adding that TfL has supplied extra funding for "10.5" additional staff to supply the testing service. The FTA's Gordon Telling says: "TfL should have gone to the manufacturers  in the first place instead they shoot first and defend their policies later."

TfL defends its position, saying the LEZ focuses on particulates because it is the most harmful pollutant. It says: "[We] are aware that some Euro 2 engine models and one or two Euro 1 engine models meet the Euro 3 standard for particulate matter."