The British High Court ruled Friday that the government’s plan to expand the ultra-low emission zone, ULEZ, to outer London boroughs is lawful.
Five councils led by the governors submitted a complaint to the judiciary against Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to fine cars whose fumes exceed the limit ?£5.12 on a daily basis as of August 29, BBC reported.
“This landmark decision is good news as it means we can proceed with cleaning up the air in outer London on 29 August,” Khan was quoted by BBC as saying.
He noted that the decision to expand the ULEZ was very difficult and not something “I took lightly and I continue to do everything possible to address any concerns Londoners may have”.
The zone includes Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.
More than 500,000 Londoners are suffering from asthma due to air pollution. Studies has recently revealed that harmful emissions cost national health and care services ?£4.10 billion (USD 13 billion) unless measures are taken to improve air quality.
The ULEZ zone, where drivers of vehicles in central London pay a fee of ?£50.12 (USD 15.68) as that do not comply with the minimum emission limit, has cut nitrogen dioxide pollution in half.
Source: Kuwait News Agency