FTA wins London Low Emission Zone concessions

Following a campaign by the Freight Transport Association to highlight the problems faced by diligent operators to get compliant with the Low Emission Zone, Transport for London has introduced a period of grace of 28 days at the start of the scheme.

In 2007 it became clear that distortions in the commercial vehicle market, caused by the pressures of the Low Emission Zone and high vehicle sales in Eastern Europe, meant that many diligent operators were not going to have replacement vehicles in time for the 4 February start of the London LEZ.

FTA worked closely with TfL to gather information from operators and manufacturers to get an understanding of the problem and from this analysis developed options to minimise the negative impact on operators.

Any non-compliant vehicle entering the zone after 4 February 2008 will, rather than get a Penalty Charge Notice, instead receive a warning letter giving the vehicle keeper 28 days to make the vehicle compliant. After that period any subsequent infringement will result in a Penalty Charge Notice being issued.

In addition, operators who can demonstrate that replacement vehicles were ordered in good time are invited to make representations to TfL. TfL has agreed to consider these representations but has a good understanding of vehicle lead times and will judge individual representations on their merits.

Gordon Telling, FTA’s Head of Policy for London, South East and East of England said, ‘I am delighted that following our representations to Transport for London the measures to help non-compliant operators have been announced. Specifically, the 28-day compliance limit for first offences will help operators that have made reasonable efforts to comply but have encountered problems. Likewise, TfL’s offer to hear representations from operators who have longer-term problems with new vehicles will go a long way to affirming TfL’s commitment to a reasonable approach to enforcement.’