Stephen Inch, ULEZ Programme Manager at the GLA and Andrew Galligan ULEZ Project Communications Specialist at TfL will attend to present and take questions on the below:
• how the GLA is addressing air quality issues from road transport in Inner London
• an update on what the impact of the ULEZ expansion is likely to be, and
• What steps are being considered in relation to Road Pricing?
• Air quality work impacting on Southwark.
Minutes:
Stephen Inch, ULEZ Programme Manager at the GLA and Andrew Galligan ULEZ Project Communications Specialist at TfL provided a presentation on how the GLA is addressing air quality issues from road transport in Inner London, covering
• ULEZ expansion and impact on air quality is likely to be, and
• What steps are being considered in relation to Road Pricing
• Air quality work impacting on Southwark, in particular Southwark School Streets
The chair then invited questions and the following points were made:
· The GLA Schools streets report was published today [more information can be found here: https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/school-streets-improve-air-quality ]
· A member raised a concern that motorcycles that built in the US that meet the emission rules for California, are not currently provided with certification for the ULEZ, although EU motorcycles can have type approval. This means they have to seek exemption each time as individuals rather than by type. The GLA officers invited the member to follow this up outside of the meeting with them.
· The GLA report showed an 18% reduction in people driving to school. There is more work to be done to encourage a modal shift. The GLA are launching a new scheme addressing larger vehicles to increase safety.
· A member raised a concern that Southwark residents, who live in the congestion zone and own cars, have been hit by a 15% increase in charges, with little warning, as a result of a rise imposed temporarily in June. GLA officers assured members that any extension to this, or Road Pricing, would be subject to 8 - 10 weeks consultation and publicised.
· The GLA have provided a 200 word summary on the consultation on Heathrow, which has been translated into many local languages and made available to councils and community organisations, including Community Southwark, to allow greater understanding.
· The ULEZ will not have cameras on every street; however cameras will be able to capture 98% of journeys. The locations are not publicised and there is still a relatively large number even if the minimum, so it will be difficult for people to cheat.
· There is a Low Income Scrappage scheme, which covers people in low incomes and disabled people. £2000 is awarded to, and this can be used to buy a cheap petrol car which is still compliant e.g. Euro 4. The car does not need to be very new.
· A member cautioned against encouraging people to buy new electric cars as a solution, given the high embedded carbon of a new car and particulates released by brake and tyre dust.
· The GLA have published reports on inequalities which found that deprived populations and BAME people are more likely to be exposed to higher pollution. The ULEZ is designed to drive down large scale pollution, particularly NO2, and shrink the range. Independent research indicated that the ULEZ will reduce pollution by 71 and 81 for deprived and BAME populations, respectively. The ULEZ will not equalise but it will help with health inequalities.
· The ULEZ is a significant measure but no single intervention is going to work on its own. Big interventions like ULEZ need to be combined with increases in bike parking, work on junctions and LTNs, which all ought to be integrated.
· A 15% reduction in Pm10 and Pm2.5 is anticipated from the ULEZ. Domestic fuel burning is an important contributor to particulates, as well as ammonia from farming, and particulates from type and brakes. The Mayor is looking at 2030 to reduce particulates to WHO levels, with assistance from central government. The ULEZ is more designed to reduce NO2.
· The Climate Emergency target of net zero by 2030 means there will be a need to reduce car journeys by 60%. As part of this this the GLA is looking at road pricing, however no decision has been made yet. The Mayor’s aim is that by 2040 80% of journeys will be by a sustainable mode; currently it is 40%.
· This will take the whole heft of the transport improvements- so both pull and push factors. Pull factors are safety of active travel and provision of sustainable modes of transport. Push factors are schemes like the ULEZ.
· Local Zero Emission Zones, such as the one in Hackney could grow and play an increasingly important role. In some there is an opportunity to try out electric vehicles.
· The Mayor’s Covid recovery plan focuses on a Green New Deal, which means High Streets for all, thinking differently and building on localism. These are 60s type visions for cities.
· The GLA are promoting sustainable freight with large companies such as UPS and DHL, who are working on consolidating their electrical fleet. Some people in the gig economy, who work for delivery companies, have benefited from the scrappage scheme.
· The Mini Holland schemes in Waltham Forest were recommended by the GLA officers, with reports that after some initial concerns local people are enthused by these.
RESOLVED
The GLA officers will send more information:
· Data on particulate ( PM10 and PM 2.5) decreases anticipated from the ULEZ
· More information on local low emission zones.