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London to fine most polluting trucks

07 February 2008

London is to impose a £200 a day charge on the most polluting trucks starting on Monday in a bid to improve the health of residents.

The world's largest low-emission zone - within the M25 motorway encircling the capital - will deploy a network of 90 cameras to monitor license plate numbers and catch truck owners who haven't paid the charge.

Vehicles meeting EU emissions standards will be exempt.

Mayor Ken Livingstone said the zone will help save the lives of 1,000 Londoners a year who die prematurely because of the worst air quality in Western Europe.

The zone will cut pollution by 16 per cent by 2012 and deliver £250 million in health benefits such as lower spending on treating respiratory illness, Mr Livingstone said.

Gordon Telling, head of policy at the Freight Transport Association, in a statement said: "We now have a massive and costly infrastructure of signs and cameras in place and a substantial cost to Londoners and lorry operators for a minimal benefit."

The London zone will cost £49 million to set up and £10 million a year to operate, according to Transport for London.

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