London's 'Ban on Bangers'

Classic cars to be barred from entering the capital?

By PH Staff / Friday, 16 May 2003 / Loading comments

You may not fancy driving into London any more now that you'll be charged for the privilege. If your car was built before 1992 then you may not be allowed to in future.

Thirty three borough councils are drawing up plans to exclude older cars from a 'low emission zone' to reduce pollution. Ken Livingston revealed plans for the zone this week saying that it could be operational within five years.

Livingstone has several weeks in which to decide whether to press ahead with the scheme, but he know's it won't be popular. "There will be a huge row if I do it and there will be debate coming in the press and people will say I'm anti-car" he stated.

The news comes the same day as the RAC have reported that pollution levels in some parts of central London have risen despite the reduction of traffic by 18% due to the congestion charge.

Spokesbloke for the RAC, Edmund King said "One of the most polluted roads, and one of the roads where pollution has got worse post charging is Oxford Street. The great irony here is that cars are banned from Oxford Street and yet it is clogged daily by buses and taxis - often some of the most gross polluting vehicles."