Posters proclaiming the ‘End of diesel’ have been erected by the Clean Cities Campaign and Mums for Lungs across six sites in Lambeth and Wandsworth
(Picture: Alex Bigham)Clean air campaigners have called on candidates in the forthcoming borough elections to make it harder to own a diesel car in London.
They want councils to impose restrictions on parking permits that ban new residents from being able to park diesel vehicles near their home.
Diesel drivers who already hold CPZ (controlled parking zone) permits, and blue badge holders, would continue to be entitled to obtain a permit.
Posters proclaiming the “End of diesel” have been erected by the Clean Cities Campaign and Mums for Lungs across six sites in Lambeth and Wandsworth.
Their long-term aim is to have all diesel parking phased out by 2030 – with all CPZ rates varying by vehicle emissions by next year, as already happens in boroughs such as Waltham Forest and Islington.
We were also joined by Lambeth Leader @clairekholland four Lambeth Cabinet Members for health, the environment and VCS and campaigners @Jemima_Vivien from @MumsForLungs (and her beautiful kid!) plus @cities_clean guru @0jhl #CleanAirWins pic.twitter.com/ASQPLqFUbu
— Alex Bigham (@alexbigham) March 29, 2022
More than 1,800 councillors will be elected to the 32 boroughs on May 5. The campaign groups – backed by 26 other environmental organisations including Friends of the Earth and Sustrans under the #CleanAirWins tag – have called on candidates to “phase out polluting cars as soon as possible, especially diesel”.
They also want road space reallocated for walking, cycling parklets and greenery, more bus lanes and car clubs and for each borough to appoint a cabinet member for clean air and climate change.
The number of diesel cars registered in London has fallen by 15.2 per cent since 2017 - six times faster than the rest of the UK.
There were 708,793 registered in London in 2020 – 127,509 fewer than three years earlier.
This is believed to be a consequence of the introduction and expansion of the ultra-low emission zone.
Diesel cars typically older than six years have to pay the £12.50-a-day levy, while petrol vehicles up to 16 years old are exempt.
Between 2017 and 2020, the number of petrol cars registered in London increased by 72,475 to 1,754,170.
Jemima Hartshorn, from Mums for Lungs, said: “We are on the cusp of something historic with the end of diesel fumes. But we won’t get there without local leadership from councillors and candidates. Let’s make polluting cars a distant memory.”
Labour councillors in Lambeth said it was “committed to the campaign’s headline goals”.
Claire Holland, Lambeth’s Labour leader, said: “Our air is toxic. People die prematurely from London’s dirty air.
“The people most at risk are our most vulnerable citizens – our children and people with underlying health issues. It’s really important that we clean up our air.”
