KEN'S CLEAR AIR

by RAY FLEMING
KEN Livingstone, London's Mayor, won't get any praise from Boris Johnson, who is running against him for the job, or from the London Evening Standard which never has a good word for him. But the fact is that Mr Livingstone does get things done which most other politicians would shy away from. The daily congestion charge for cars entering central London was heavily criticised at first but most people now believe it has improved the quality of life in the area. Now he has moved on to an even bigger scheme to make life more tolerable in the whole Greater London area. From yesterday diesel-engined lorries weighing more than 12 tonnes will be required to meet low emission targets and charged 200 pounds if they do not. This is just the start of a project that in July will be extended to other vehicles, including buses, coaches and motor caravans weighing more than three-and-a-half tonnes. Some 23'000 heavy vehicles enter Greater London every day of which 2'500 do not meet emission standards. Unlike the congestion charge scheme which was designed to be self-funding, operating the new low emission zone (LEZ) is aimed at cutting London's heavy pollution and will cost about 10 million pounds a year. There will, though, be huge savings in the form of health benefits for Londoners who will no longer have to breath foul air in their streets and homes.