London,
22
November
2017
|
09:36
Europe/London

Camden council to tackle engine idling

At full Council on Monday 20 November, Camden approved new measures to help reduce emissions from stationary idling vehicles that create pollution on the roads of the borough.

The new powers mean the council’s Civil Enforcement Officers will now be able to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) to drivers who refuse to switch off their engines in a stationary vehicle.

Tackling engine idling is part of the Council’s Clean Air Action Plan to tackle air pollution. London’s poor air has a major health impact, with 9,500 people dying prematurely each year across the capital as a result of dangerous levels of pollution.

At present, Civil Enforcement Officers engage with the driver, requesting that the driver switch off their engine. The vast majority of motorists respond well to this. However, a small minority refuse and it is in these cases they will receive FPNs.

Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Improving Camden's Environment
“This is an important step forward in our mission to clean up the dirty air that surrounds us as we go about our daily business in Camden.

“But we remain too limited in the actions that we can take as a Council. I believe the fines we can issue for this offence should be higher. The Government should also remove incentives for diesel in Vehicle Excise Duty, introduce a national diesel car scrappage scheme and introduce a National Clean Air Act, giving the Mayor and London boroughs greater powers of enforcement, such as over wood burning stoves and construction machinery.”
Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Improving Camden's Environment

Camden’s own actions to reduce air pollution include stopping buying diesel vehicles for its fleet in 2016, leading on a pioneering Freight Consolidation Centre to reduce the numbers of delivery vehicles using the borough’s roads, and introducing a diesel surcharge on resident parking permits.

Camden’s upcoming policies include new charges for diesel cars parked in pay and display bays and using low emission vehicles for our Environmental Services Contract.

This forms part of Camden’s goal of reducing overall car use in the borough, and of creating a healthier and safer borough through increased walking and cycling.

 You can read more information here.