Boris Johnson plans to ban lorries from central London

Heavy goods vehicles could be stopped from entering parts of central London to help keep out some of the worst polluters.

Boris Johnson told a People's Question Time event that the scheme would make lorries drop off their goods at bases around the perimeter. Low-carbon vehicles would then be used to take the goods to their destination.

The Mayor said during the meeting at the Camden Centre that the plans, if implemented, would "stop polluting heavy goods vehicles travelling through London and make a real difference". The scheme is the latest attempt by the Mayor's office to control pollution, which is said to cause the early deaths of 3,000 to 5,000 people in the capital each year.

Last month the Standard revealed that the Mayor was considering tough new rules for the vehicles that cause most pollution in central London — including a possible ban. Black cabs would be among those most affected by the introduction of a very low emission zone, which would attempt to improve air quality in the congestion charge area.

The current zone extends west to Notting Hill and east to the City. There is also a low emission zone for larger vehicles across London.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor's transport adviser, said: "He wants TfL to consider whether it might be possible for lorries and vans to stop at consolidation centres on the edge of our city and transfer their goods onto electric or low-emission vehicles for transport through London.

"This could have the double benefit of allowing us to reduce the number of large polluting vehicles but also combine the loads of smaller polluting lorries onto a carbon free vehicle."