Yahoo News London street to become UK's first zero-emission road after banning petrol and diesel cars
A street in the City of London is set to become the first to ban petrol and diesel cars.
Barbican Estate’s Beech Street will be the only road in the UK to have zero emissions when the new policy begins in spring 2020.
The City of London Corporation (CLC) and Transport for London (TfL) will use an experimental traffic order that will last 18 months to ensure the ban is adhered to.
The order will allow officials to closely monitor vehicles and the quality of air.
CLC Environment committee chair Jeremy Simons said: “Drastically reducing air pollution requires radical actions, and these plans will help us eliminate toxic air on our streets.”
There will be some exemptions from the petrol and diesel ban, including emergency vehicles, rubbish trucks and delivery vans.
The CLC will use signs and warnings to reroute cars that do not meet requirements from the area.
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TfL is also running a pollution levy in the capital to reduce harmful emissions.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was launched in central London on April 8 this year.
Most vehicles must meet tighter emission standards or pay a daily charge to travel in the area.
The ULEZ covers the same area as the Congestion Charge Zone and is in effect throughout the year.
It was revealed last month TfL had been forced to overturn nearly 19,000 ULEZ fines.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who previously called for £1.5 billion in funds to remove polluting vehicles from the UK, is also creating 12 Low Emission Bus Zones and introducing double-hybrid double-decker buses to reduce pollution.
He also announced thousands of new trees would be planted in the capital and £48m would be invested into a scrappage scheme to help low-income Londoners and small business switch to cleaner vans.
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees revealed last month he would be banning diesel vehicles in the city from 7am to 3pm each day by March 2021.
