Diesel drivers may face extra £10 pollution fee on top of congestion charges

London mayor Boris Johnson proposes an additional £10 pollution fee on top of congestion charges for diesel drivers.

17:27 29 July 2014

As London has reached levels far above legal safety limits as far as air pollution is concerned, city mayor Boris Johnson is now proposing an additional £10 pollution fee on top of congestion charges for diesel drivers. Mr Johnson is scheduled to unveil his plans this week but proposals must go out for consultation before they can be accepted.

Aside from additional fees, Mr Johnson is also lobbying central government to increase taxes on diesel fuel.

Simon Moore, senior research fellow at the think-tank Policy Exchange, supports Mr Johnson’s proposals. He said: "For too long people have been encouraged to buy diesel vehicles, which while slightly better for the climate are far worse for local air quality. The mayor's proposal to charge diesel drivers extra to come to places where pollution is worst should help end this dire health problem. It gives a clear sign that polluters should pay."

The Green party London Assembly member, Jenny Jones, said that although she support the proposals, it should be implemented sooner than later:  She said: "The mayor is right to target diesel vehicles as a major health hazard but we need action on them immediately, not 2020. Also, the ultra low emissions zone in central London is too small to have any significant impact on the majority of diesel vehicles in London, which is why we need the mayor to allow all the inner London boroughs to join the scheme if they want to."