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Federation of Small Businesses slams Livingstone's pollution proposals
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The Federation of Small Businesses has called on the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, to re-think his plans for a Low Emission Zone in the capital.
The plans will hit hauliers and business vehicles across the UK because over 50% travel through London at least once a year. The LEZ would impose daily charges of between £100 and £200 on heavy goods vehicles that emit certain levels of pollution after 2008. The penalties for failing to pay will be as high as £1,000.
The FSB does not believe that TfL has consulted sufficiently with businesses. There are approximately 103,000 Operator Licence holders in the UK but TfL has only heard from around 3,000 businesses. This leaves the vast majority of haulage firms unaware of the proposed scheme.
The FSB is the UK's largest business organisation, with over 200,000 members – over 6,000 of which are based in London. Steve Collie, FSB National Transport Chairman, said: “The FSB would be glad to assist in this publicity campaign to make the LEZ workable, which it most certainly is not at present.”
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