Petrol & diesel cars to be banned from this popular UK road in first zero-emissions street – Express

Petrol and diesel vehicles will be unable to access the street which will only be available to pedestrians, cyclists and electric vehicles.Beech Street,which runs under the popular Barbican Estate,will see the ban introduced from Spring 2020 under newproposalsfrom the City of London.

The legislation will be enforced across the whole day in the first instance of a blanket ban for polluting vehicles in the UK.

Vehicles which are not fully electric ordo nothave the capability to drive in zero-emissions will violate the zone andmotoristscan be charged up to 130.

The charges can be reduced to 65ifthey are paid within two weeks.

Automatic number plate recognition cameras will monitor which vehicles have entered the zone and will assess whethertheyfall within the regulations.

READ MORE:Bristol to become the first British city to ban diesel vehicles

The City of London says restrictions will be in place for up to 18 months before a final decision is introduced regarding the long-term future of the project.

A successful trial could see further measures introduced across the City of London to reduce carbon pollution.

Jeremy Simmons, chairman of the City of London Corporation's environment committee said: Drastically reducing air pollution requires radical actions and these plans will help us eliminate toxic air on our streets.

Nobody should have to breathe in dirty air and we will continue to take bold and ambitious steps to ensure that the health of Londoners is protected.

Emergency vehicles will be exempt from the ban which has been installed to reduce pollution across the popular thoroughfare.

The enclosed nature of the road means the area experienceshigh levelsof air pollution and the scheme hopes to reduce this to withinWorld Health Organisation (WHO)targets.

While motorists and locals could be caught out with the changes,the City of London Corporation has confirmed an information campaign will be visible long before restrictions come into effect.

The marketing campaign will include street signing, social media updates and direct discussion with major companies situated around the area.

Streets and Walkways Sub Committee Chairman, Oliver Sells QC said: This is a groundbreaking scheme by the City of London Corporation.

It will bring substantial health benefits to those who live and work in the Barbican area, and will also help reduce noise pollution.

The experimental scheme will be enforced using the latest in smart camera technology and I hope it will be the first of many other schemes like this.

However, many locals attacked the introduction of the scheme on social media withsomesuggesting the new legislation was"stupid".

One user posted: So Vehicles that emit emissions will have to travel further in more congested roads creating additional emissions. Groundbreaking stupidity!

Another added: So you're going to close a non-residential tunnel and displace the traffic on to Banner street.

The residents are gonna love the increase in traffic driving past theyre front doors 24/7."(sic)

The City of London Corporation has also backed proposals to turn part of the popular Square Mile into a zero-emission zone by 2022.

The proposals would also see the speed limit cut to just 15miles per hour (mph)to help reduce the number of pollutants exiting vehicles.

The proposals are alongside the Mayor of LondonsUltra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)scheme which charges up to 12.50 extra per day on polluting cars, vans and motorbikes.

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Petrol & diesel cars to be banned from this popular UK road in first zero-emissions street - Express