Plant for London sites faces double-whammy

Last week saw the publication of the London Best Practice Guidance and the start of the public consultation on Transport for London’s (TfL) Low Emissions Zone (LEZ).

Mayor Ken Livingstone said: “With the 2012 Olympics, plus regeneration throughout the Thames Gateway, London will see decades of construction. It is therefore essential that we do all we can to reduce these particulate emissions, which are harmful to health and exacerbate respiratory conditions.

Merrick Cockell, chairman of London Councils, said: “Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and fine particles are predicted to exceed their safe levels across most of London.” These fine particles, known as PM10s, are blamed for 1,000 accelerated deaths and 1,000 extra-respiratory hospital admissions per year.

To reduce PM10s, the guide specifies using low-sulphur diesel wherever possible and that plant over 37kW used on major sites should be fitted with a diesel particulate filter.

The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) said it will write to all London councils urging themnot to adopt the code and has expressed hope that TfL’s LEZ proposals may offer exemptions for some plant and that it will mainly apply to drivers of vans and trucks. Non-exempt vehicles will face a £200/day charge.

The proposal states that “a small number of diesel-engine vehicles would be considered non-chargeable [ie entitled to a 100% discount from the scheme]. These include non road-going vehicles that are allowed to drive on the highway [for example excavators] and certain types of mobile cranes.”

CPA senior manager John Varcoe said: “We will be examining the details of the proposals ourselves over the next few weeks with a view to sending in comments to TfL.”

The Best Practice Guidance is available on www.contractjournal.com. Comments on TfL’s proposals can be made until 2 February on http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/low-emission-zone/consultation.asp#questionnaires.

[Contract Journal, 29 November 2006, p16]