Emissions zone extended to include buses

11:33am Monday 7th July 2008

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More vehicles from today will be subject to the Low Emissions Zone which covers the borough.

Lorries weighing more than 3.5 tonnes, buses and coaches will have to meet emissions standards or face a £200 daily charge or a £1,000 charge.

The regulations on the lighter vehicles is the second phase of the London-wide scheme, which was launched on February 4 to improve air quality across the capital.

The restrictions initially targeted lorries weighing more than 12 tonnes and will further expand over the next four years to incorporate minibuses and motor caravans.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: "Londoners and visitors to our great city deserve to breathe air of the highest possible quality; not splutter on a smog of poisonous fumes belching from the exhausts of buses and lorries."

The zone, which is controlled by Automatic Number Plate Reading Cameras (ANPR), operates 24 hours a day throughout the year, and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) records are checked to see whether vehicles are compliant.

Mr Johnson added: "The majority of lorries that were affected by phase one of the Low Emission Zone have cleaned up their act and meet the necessary standard.

"And I hope that many of the operators affected by phase two will already have followed their example."