Photo by Kathy on Unsplash
By Najma Sultan
Deputy Mayor of London and the Transport Deputy Chair, Seb Dance, spoke to the Greater London Assembly yesterday about the need to expand the capital’s Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) and Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs).
This follows an earlier message by London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Monday, in which he said that expanding the ULEZ is a “key frontier” in the fight against climate change, according to City AM.
Islington council currently has the ULEZ zone active, after the ULEZ expanded in October 2021 to encompass all of Islington. The Islington website states: “The zone now includes the entire borough of Islington. The ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends (except Christmas day).”
The ULEZ stops vehicles that pollute excessively from entering the zones where it is active. This will lower the pollution in these areas and create better quality air, which is what TFL is aiming for.
During the GLA meeting Conservatives complained that the ULEZ expansion is costly, saying that the costs need to be looked at again. The ULEZ expansion is due to be on the 9th of August 2023 but it is yet undecided if it take place.
Islington has had low traffic neighbourhoods in place since January 2021, as well as the ULEZ. Highbury, St Peters and Canonbury West are all LTN’s zones. Camera-enforced traffic filters have been instituted within Highbury.
The Islington website states: “We introduced low traffic neighbourhood trials in Highbury Fields and Highbury West to create a cleaner, greener and healthier borough.”
A budget has been set out by the GLA transport team for the LTN’s. Deputy Chair Dance said: “£150 million is being given to the boroughs for them to make improvements to their own streets. We also spent a lot of time analysing on how we can deliver these schemes more efficiently.”
Use the bus, please
The transport team at the GLA are being urged to follow up within the LTN’S councils, and Dance confirmed that they are funding and following five boroughs across London.
“Our aim is to make sure more people use the bus and existing users stay using the bus, they will realize how great it is.
“By the Transport team pushing this idea it will assist the reduction of pollution, as it leads to more people using public transport encouraging people to leave their cars at home.
Newer buses are all being made electric to ensure they fit in the ULEZ zones and to ensure greener air for the capital. During the meeting new bus contacts were discussed and Dance said: ”From diesel to electric buses.”
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