'Green Zone' extension axed

BORIS Johnson today scrapped the planned extension of the Low Emission Zone to help small businesses in the recession.

The Mayor said he was still committed to environmental incentives but said the third stage of the LEZ was unnecessary. The Low Emission Zone targets the most polluting lorries, buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes. Phase three, planned by previous mayor, Ken Livingstone, was scheduled to start in October 2010 and would have affected smaller vehicles, including vans, minibuses and camper vans.

Many of the owners of the 90,000 non-compliant vehicles that use the zone each year would have faced a bill of up to £2,000 to reduce their vehicles' emissions, or £15,000 for a new vehicle.

They would have faced £100 daily charges or fines of £500 for each day they entered Greater London.