FTA: London Mayor’s air quality proposals will put businesses at risk

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has expressed “extreme concern” over air quality proposals from London’s new Mayor Sadiq Khan, which it says “would add substantial cost to all London businesses, and potentially put some small companies out of work altogether”. Christopher Snelling – FTA’s Head of National and Regional Policy, said that the new proposals will “put businesses at risk, and add massive costs to all – especially to those who need the services that vans provide”.

Snell added: “Freight operators and the service industry could find themselves being charged extra for their vehicles before they have had any reasonable chance to upgrade. Many businesses could lose trade first in central London, then the whole of inner London – and for businesses based in the zones involved, the impacts will be even worse.”

FTA has said that the plans outlined by the new London Mayor could have three major possible impacts on business; first an additional charge on the Congestion Charge which is expected to impact vans and lorries; secondly a requirement for vans and lorries to be Euro VI/6 across inner-London – possibly as early as 2018; and thirdly the proposal would require lorries to be Euro VI across all of Greater London as early as 2020.

According to Snelling: “If we are to avoid increasing costs for consumers, businesses will need significant financial help to adopt these standards this early. It is imperative that the Mayor looks at carrots as well as sticks.”