News

The road to hell, so the saying goes, is paved with good intentions. However, in the case of London's Low Emission Zone (LEZ), the road to hell is paved with muddled thinking and political expediency. Just weeks after it was revealed that a large number of Euro 1 and 2 trucks would probably be allowed into the LEZ without modification, comes the news that Transport for London (TfL) is looking to make a last-minute change to the rules and apparently close a loophole of its own making.

Of course everyone wants cleaner air, but if you really wanted to make London's air cleaner then you'd apply it to cars as well as trucks. But tackling motorists is a sure-fire way of losing votes, hence TfL is happy to shoot at the obvious target that is the road transport industry. Now, within almost six months of the LEZ coming into force we still have no clear idea of the rules.

We suspect this last-minute meddling will not affect the big fleets, which will almost certainly already meet the requirements. But it's the likes of small scaffolding companies, removals firms and perhaps even local councils that will be left in limbo while TfL belatedly attempts to get its act together. This is not good enough. Yes, the transport industry has a responsibility to London's population, but it needs clear guidance on the rules it needs to comply with and it needs that clarity now. Last-minute rule changes benefit no one, least of all the politicians behind them.