After sustained pressure from campaigners and overwhelming evidence of dire health effects from air pollution, London’s Mayor has finally seen the light and is proposing introduction of an Ultra-Low Emission Zone for the existing congestion zone in 2020. This would already include parts of Islington, and our proposal is simply asking Boris to extend the zone across the whole of the Borough, so that all Islingtonians can enjoy the considerable health benefits that reduced pollution levels would bring. Extending the ULEZ in this way would also enable Islington residents to have a say in how the scheme is run.
Caroline Russell, Highbury Campaigner said: “All the political parties in Islington agree that diesel vehicles need to controlled, because of the high levels of toxic emissions they produce. Our calculations suggest that at worst there might be about a further 4,200 of the most polluting petrol cars in the borough that need to be banned too, as these would be more than 12 years old by 2020. This is based on data* from the recent census, the DVLA, and the RAC and is before factoring in planned interventions to help residents adapt over the next six years.”
Caroline Allen, No 2 European Parliament Candidate for the Greens in London, said “Of the relatively small number of cars we’re talking about, the lowest income households in the borough are generally not car car-owners so will not be affected; a proportion will be wealthier households who need to be encouraged and persuaded rather than subsidised; and some will be lower income families who may need support to make the change. Our letter to the Mayor suggested applying for EU structural funds to help motorists and small businesses, for example with free access to car club vehicles. A key part of consultation will be working out the measures most suited to helping those on lower-incomes, and that’s why we believe it’s important for Islington residents to be involved from the start .
* Calculation based on:
· 93,600 households in Islington (census data)
· of which 35% own a car (2011 census data) -> 33,100 cars in Islington
· of which around 67.3% are petrol (DoT national ave stats, below) -> 22,276 petrol cars in Islington
· of which around 19% are more than 12 yrs old (RAC national ave stats, below) -> 4,232 petrol cars in Islington more than 12 yrs old
RAC FAQ Q6 There are currently 29.2million cars on the road of which 5.6million (19%) are more than 12 years old.
Dept of Transport Vehicle licensing stats section 5 Fuel type: 32.7% of all licensed cars are diesel. -> 67.3% of all licensed cars are petrol
Data on air pollution and public health in Islington available here