New Eco-Friendly Buses will Benefit Brentford

Local routes part of the Mayor's plan for increased Low Emission Bus Zones

Chiswick High Road will definitely be part of the new Low Emission Bus Zone area, the Mayor's office has confirmed. This means that local buses will be part of the next generation cleaner eco-friendly models.

The initial announcement was unclear as to whether the whole of the High Road would be covered by the scheme but, in response to a question by ChiswickW4.com, more details of the plans have been disclosed.

Brentford may not be in the Low Emission Bus Zone but routes including the 237, 267, 391, H91 will all be part of the project to extend the Low Emission Bus Zones in the city in the next three years. Other bus routes to be included are 27, E3, 190 and 70.

There are already 2 such zones in Putney and Brixton but the newly revealed ones are to be introduced by 2020 - last week the Mayor, Sadiq Khan announced ten new Low Emission Zones. These would only allow buses which are less polluting to operate on certain routes with the aim of reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

The news comes at a time of heightened concern over the health implications from pollution for people living near busy roads. Local MP Ruth Cadbury will attend a public meeting on road pollution on 17 January 17 from 7.30pm at Brentford Free Church.

Professor Frank Kelly, Professor of Environmental Health at King's College, London and Caroline Russell, London Assembly Member, Green Party Spokesperson for Transport are also expected to attend.

Frank Kelly will talk about research at King's on air pollution in London including the latest information on the public health impact. Caroline Russell will give an update on the new London Ultra Low Emission Zone and London healthy streets projects.

The Mayor has targeted air quality hotspots where people are exposed to some of the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution and where older buses contribute significantly to road transport emissions. The new greener buses, which will be a combination of hybrid and clean buses that meet Euro VI standards, are part of an improvement programme to 3,000 buses outside central London.

The zones are expected to reduce NOx emissions from buses along the routes by around 84 per cent and will fulfil the Mayor’s manifesto commitment to introduce Low Emission Bus Zones by 2020.

He is also urging the Government to introduce a national diesel scrappage scheme.

Other locations of the 12 Low Emission Bus Zones include the Uxbridge Road to Shepherd’s Bush – from Ealing Broadway via Hanger Lane.

Low Emission Bus Zones are one of a number of measures the Mayor has asked TfL to take to reduce emissions from the capital’s bus fleet, including the phasing out of diesel only buses and a commitment to purchase only hybrid or zero emission double deck buses from 2018.

January 16, 2017