TfL to face questions over ULEZ diesel exemptions

London Assembly will quiz Transport for London and the GLA over the planned ULEZ in light of the Volkswagen scandal

Transport for London and the Greater London Authority will today face questions over the exemptions for Euro 6 diesel cars in the planned ultra low emission zone, set for introduction in the capital from 2020.

The London Assembly meeting takes place at City Hall today (October 1)

In light of the Volkswagen scandal over diesel emissions test cheating, the London Assembly’s Environment Committee will today quiz TfL’s policy manager for environment, Sam Longman, and GLA’s air quality manager Oliver Lord at City Hall.

The Committee is concerned that diesel cars in London may be emitting more pollutants on the road than has been shown in laboratory tests, and the session has been arranged in order to consider “how recent revelations might affect the proposed ULEZ and how the Mayor may respond”.

A report produced by the Committee in July called for more restrictions on diesel car use in the capital, calling them a “major contributor” to air pollution (see AirQualityNews.com story).

The ‘Driving Away From Diesel’ report called for the ULEZ to be brought in sooner than 2020 and for it to cover a larger area. It also states that “consideration should be given to removing all diesel cars from the exempt category”.

Specifically, it also called on TfL to consider removing the ULEZ exemption from vehicles registered as Euro 6 which do not meet the required standards in London’s urban conditions, and recommended that TfL undertake its own emissions tests if necessary.

Last week, London Assembly Member Stephen Knight also called for London to become a “diesel-free zone” as there is “no such thing as a clean diesel car” (see AirQualityNews.com story).