London,
13
March
2018
|
16:40
Europe/London

No idle threat as Camden introduces measures to tackle engine idling

Camden Council has introduced new measures to help reduce emissions from stationary idling vehicles that create pollution on the roads of the borough.

From Monday 12 March, the council’s Civil Enforcement Officers have been able to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) to drivers who refuse to switch off their engines in a stationary vehicle.

This pilot scheme will start with a week of awareness raising, during which officers will not issue any FPNs, but highlight the risk of receiving a fine to any motorists idling. 

Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Improving Camden's Environment
“Previously our Civil Enforcement Officers, when engaging with an idling driver, could only request that they switch off their engine. The vast majority of motorists responded well to this.

“However, a small minority refused and it in these cases we are now able, as a last resort, to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) to drivers who refuse to switch off their engines in a stationary vehicle

“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 new 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

At the Full Council meeting in November 2017, Camden approved new measures to help reduce emissions from stationary idling vehicles that create pollution on the roads of the borough.

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 January’s Full Council meeting, the Council became the first borough in London and the country to adopt stretching new pollution limits in line with those established by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Council also launched a supporting air quality campaign to help drive the improvement in air quality.