Elizabeth Truss The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

I have today issued the UK plan for improving air quality. This Plan sets out a comprehensive approach that will reduce health impacts and meet our environmental and legal obligations by implementing a new programme of Clean Air Zones.

Under this Plan, by 2020 the most polluting diesel vehicles - old polluting buses, coaches, taxis and lorries - will be discouraged from entering the centres of Birmingham, Leeds, Southampton, Nottingham and Derby. Newer vehicles that meet the latest emission standards, and private cars, will be unaffected.

Over recent decades, air quality has improved significantly. Between 2005 and 2013 emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 38% and particulate matter has reduced by more than 16%. Over the past five years the Government has committed over £2 billion to help bus operators upgrade their fleets, reduce pollution from a range of vehicles such as refuse trucks and fire engines through cutting edge technologies, and promote the development of clean alternative fuels such as powering taxis with liquid petroleum gas in Birmingham.

In order to bring the UK into legal compliance and to reduce concentrations of nitrogen dioxide below 40 µg/m3 Clean Air Zones will be introduced in five cities. These Zones will reduce the pollution in city centres and encourage the replacement of old, polluting vehicles with modern, cleaner vehicles. Similar zones in Germany and Denmark have been shown to improve air quality.

These Zones will target air quality hot spots. Following scoping studies, which Government will provide funding for, Councils will consult on the details on these Zones.

In Birmingham, Leeds, Southampton, Nottingham and Derby, these Zones will cover old diesel buses, coaches, taxis and lorries. Newer vehicles that meet the latest emissions standards will not need to pay and, under this Plan, no private car will have to pay. The local authorities will have to set charges at levels designed to reduce pollution, not to raise revenue (beyond recovering the costs of the scheme).

Birmingham and Leeds will also discourage old polluting diesel vans and implement other measures including park and ride schemes, signage, changes in road layouts and provision of infrastructure for alternative fuels.

Many companies have already started to update their fleets to modern, cleaner vehicles. For example, by 2017 British Gas will have replaced at least 10% of their commercial fleet with electric vehicles, reducing emissions compared to their old diesel vans. The new electric vans also represent a saving over their diesel counterparts. In London the cost savings could be as high as 20%, with other locations saving between 6-10%.

The Environment Agency, winner of Green Fleet of the Year 2015, has committed to increase the number of ultra-low emission vehicles to more than 100 by the end of 2015.

Another example of businesses modernising their fleet is Reading Buses - 38% of their fleet are ‘ultra-clean’ drastically reducing their emissions. Drivers are also given advice on fuel efficient eco-driving techniques.

One of the main reasons our cities continue to face air quality problems is the failure of diesel vehicles to deliver expected emission reductions in real world driving conditions. We have recently secured agreement in the EU to introduce more stringent emissions testing across the EU, ensuring that vehicles live up to their low emission credentials. Our Plans fully factor in current car performance and future performance standards following this agreement.

The Mayor of London has a well-developed strategy for improving air quality by 2025, including the implementation of an ultra-low emission zone by 2020, retro-fitting of buses and licensing new taxis to be zero emission capable from 2018. We will continue to support and monitor the delivery of the Mayor’s plans.

This statement has also been made in the House of Lords: HLWS401
-----------------------------------------------
LONDON

Congestion on London’s roads is reaching record levels, partly because of the huge increase in private taxi drivers working for firms such as Uber, it was claimed today. 

Motorists are spending an average of 250 hours — more than 24 days — a year stuck in traffic, with more delivery vans and roadworks also blamed.

The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association said the “triple whammy” was causing “unsustainable” congestion which, if left unchecked, could damage the capital’s economy.  

In the latest salvo in its battle against Uber, it claimed extra congestion was costing London £5.4 billion a year.

Steve McNamara, of the LTDA, said: “London is becoming more and more congested and it is high time that the Government and Transport for London take action to address this. The Government giving TfL the power to cap the number of private hire vehicles on our street is the simplest way to do this.”

The Greens have said Londoners could spend an average of 40 days per year in traffic jams by 2030 because of  congestion and traffic levels.

The number of minicabs in the capital reached a record 93,000 in December, according to the Mayor of London, and 600 licences a week are being issued. Last year, roadworks caused 1,005 hours of planned disruption and 2,663 hours of unplanned disruption. 

Department for Transport figures show the number of delivery vehicles registered in the capital rose by 12 per cent in the last decade, partly driven by internet shopping. Last year, around 7,300 entered the capital every hour during the morning rush-hour.

An Uber spokesman said: “Millions of cars and vans drive on London’s roads each day, but at any one time just 4,000 are with Uber. In the congestion zone during charging hours, Uber accounts for less than three per cent of the traffic. 

“The Department for Transport’s own figures suggest three things are responsible: delivery vans, low petrol prices and a growing economy.”


http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/record-traffic-on-londons-roads-caused-by-firms-like-uber-a3148751.html
-------------------------------------------------------------
LONDON

“Road rage”: cab driver Daniel Wentworth allegedly knocked down a cyclist Central News
A black cab driver deliberately used his car “as a weapon” to ram a cyclist off his bike, the Old Bailey heard.

Daniel Wentworth, 52, knocked down James Williams in a road rage attack as he cycled towards Southwark Bridge, the jury was told.

CCTV shows Mr Williams making a hand gesture at Wentworth when the taxi driver pulled out suddenly, blocking the cycling lane and forcing Mr Williams to swerve out of the way.


Wentworth allegedly drove after the cyclist before ramming into him with his black cab, the court heard.

Prosecutor William Gatward said the incident happened on January 9 last year when Wentworth tried to turn off Lower Thames Street to go across the bridge. The cyclist was left with severe bruising and tissue damage to his ankle. 

Wentworth, of Coulsdon, Surrey,  went to the police himself to report the incident and admitted having a confrontation with a cyclist. He denies dangerous driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mr Gatward said: “The question is did Mr Wentworth deliberately run the other man down? If it’s deliberate, it’s not just dangerous driving but it’s assault because he’s using his car as a weapon, trying to frighten and injure Mr Williams.” The trial continues.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/cab-driver-used-car-as-weapon-to-ram-cyclist-a3148771.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------------