‘Low Emissions Zone’ is Ken’s election gimmick
February 4th, 2008
Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate, Brian Paddick, has today slammed the new Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) charge.
“This scheme is going to cost millions of pounds to implement and run. It will put many small operators out of business and disproportionately affect families on low incomes. All of this whilst hardly making any difference to London’s air quality. No wonder the Department of Transport wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole.
“To suggest the LEZ will do something about the 1,000 deaths a year caused by pollution is grossly misleading. The most effective way to deal with pollution in London is to get the traffic moving again and reduce the number of lorries on our roads through retail consolidation schemes.
“With some estimates saying there will only be a 0.3% reduction in pollution, this is about improving the Mayor’s image, not improving air quality.”
