Pulling onto the Heathrow slip road, a deliciously ironic sign confronted me and my BMW 335i (emissions: 238g/km CO2): ‘You are entering a low emissions zone (LEZ)’. Beneath the world’s most populated airport!
Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, would like us to believe he’s transforming the capital into a green citadel. This month he introduced a £200 charge for heavily polluting lorries entering the LEZ, and confirmed that drivers of band G cars like mine (emitting 225g/km or more) will face a trebled, £25-a-day congestion charge from October 2008.
Porsche GB objects, and today began to seek a judicial review into Livingstone’s band G plan. Ultimately, the Royal Courts of Justice could be asked to rule on the legality of the mayor’s decision.
‘Not only is this 3025 percent rise completely unfair on many drivers, it will also damage London-based business of all sizes,’ said Porsche MD Andy Goss.
Porsche is taking this action alone, but band G inequality is also vexing Jaguar and Land Rover’s Geoff Polites. The company’s CEO claims that for every 20 fewer band G cars he sells, the reduced profitability could put the job of one of his 16,000 employees on the line.
Transport for London (TFL) says the band G price hike will save up to 7500 tonnes of carbon a year. That’s equivalent to four hours emissions at Heathrow – an irony that’s certainly not lost on Porsche.
What’s the answer? Should Porsche, Jaguar and Land Rover shut up and build cleaner cars, or is this the politics of envy disguised as a green tax? Do you feel you are being treated unfairly simply for being a motorist? Click ‘Add your comment’ below and join the debate