London launches low emission zone

By Jeremy Lovell

LONDON (Reuters) - London will become a 'low emission zone' on Monday, when transport officials launch a campaign to cut traffic pollution and improve the capital's air quality, the worst in Britain and among the poorest in Europe.

The 49 million pound scheme will use a network of cameras to monitor the emissions of large diesel lorries, later expanding coverage to smaller commercial vehicles, and impose heavy fines on those exceeding EU exhaust limits.

Road hauliers are unhappy with the scheme, saying compliance will be expensive, but transport officials say improving the air quality will help millions of Londoners, especially those suffering from asthma and other respiratory problems.

Low emission zones are already planned or in operation in 70 towns and cities in eight European countries including Norway, the Netherlands and Germany.

"This will be the first in Britain and the largest in the world by a significant margin," said a spokeswoman from Transport for London, which will run the scheme.

"London's air quality is the worst in Britain and among the worst in Europe. Levels of particulate matter in many parts of London are way over EU standards," the TfL spokeswoman said.

"It will help improve the quality of life for people suffering from asthma, cardio-vascular conditions and all the conditions that particulate matter exacerbates," she said.

The capital already has a congestion pricing scheme, a charge on vehicles entering the city centre, but that was aimed at reducing congestion rather than cleaning the air.