London Mayor: ULEZ Will Help Tackle Public Health Emergency Of Air Pollution In Capital

8 April 2019, 13:31

Sadiq Khan tells LBC that emergency services are not exempt from the Ultra Low Emissions Zone charge because replacing vehicles with compliant models is part of procurement plans.

The Mayor of London acknowledged that small businesses, charities and low income families will be affected by the new Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) charges, but refused to apologise for trying to curb air pollution in the city.

Sadiq Khan told LBC that the introduction of a diesel scrappage scheme earlier in the year was to "help the smallest businesses, charities and low income families to help people move away from the most polluting vehicles."

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Sadiq Khan said: "Many tradespeople need a vehicle, they can't use the tube or the bus or walk or cycle."

"But I'm not going to apologise for trying to help the poorest Londoners who own the fewest cars and suffer the worst air in our city."

But when the Mayor was asked about exemptions for black cabs but not for ambulances, fire engines and police cars, he said it is important "we don't have a situation where the public services are inadvertently helping making air worse."

Watch above.