This is a request for a summary of actions carried out by or on behalf of TfL and the Greater London Authority to warn vehicle owners and operators of their potential liability under the Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) that started operating in 2008, with particular reference to: 1. the text of advertisements and press releases as it related to the types of vehilces that might be affected by the LEZ; 2. the media employed in the publicity campaign; 3 the geographical scope of the publicity undertaken; 4. the duration of the publicity campaign; 5. any renewed publicity campaign(s) in respect of a) the original LEZ; b) any subsequent introduction of stricter LEZ regimes with particular reference to their geographical scope, start date(s) duration & media employed.

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Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 6 November 2019 asking for information about the Low Emissions Zone (LEZ).

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy.

I can confirm we do hold most of the information you have requested. Your request covers a campaign that ran eleven years ago so we do not have copies of all communications materials that ran at the time.

The original London wide Low Emission zone was implemented in a phased approach from July 2008 to January 2012 . The enclosed document provides information on the different channels used throughout the years, their reach and examples of the messaging. The initial campaign started in June 2007 to raise awareness of the new emissions requirements by vehicle type and to help vehicle owners and operators prepare in advance of February 2008.

Messaging explained who was affected, the required emissions standards and options to meet those standards. This was supported by leaflets and detailed information on the TfL website including a vehicle compliance checker.

  

Please see below the links to LEZ press releases from 2008-2012:

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/january/two-weeks-to-go-until-london-low-emission-starts-for-lorries

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/january/low-emission-zone-operators-reminded-to-get-emissions-equipment-now

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/february/londons-poor-air-quality-tackled-with-launch-of-low-emission-zone

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/march/transport-for-london-is-helping-the-capital-to-tackle-climate-change

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/june/two-weeks-to-go-until-second-phase-of-london-low-emission-zone-starts

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/july/second-phase-of-london-low-emission-zone-has-started

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/august/initial-low-emission-zone-results-prove-positive

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2009/february/mayor-announces-proposed-suspension-of-lez-for-vehicles-affected-from-october-2010

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2010/september/larger-vans-and-minibuses-required-to-meet-low-emission-zone-standards-from-january-2012

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2011/july/six-months-to-go-before-tougher-low-emission-zone-standards-introduced-to-improve-air-quality

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2011/september/operators-urged-to-take-action-now-to-meet-tougher-london-low-emission-zone-standards-to-improve-air-quality-or-risk-fines

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2012/january/mayor-hails-new-measures-in-2012-to-deliver-cleaner-air-for-london

From 26 October 2020 the required emissions standards for all vehicles will toughened to Euro VI.

A multi-channel communications campaign began w/c 7 October 2019 to raise awareness of the forthcoming changes to the LEZ standards. Copies of this are also included in the enclosed paper.

Adverts will appear in specialist press titles that are distributed nationally, London radio stations which also reach a radius of 20-25 miles outside London, Google search to deep link customers to the LEZ web pages, and we will also be emailing operators registered on the TfL database. Later on in the campaign we are planning to send letters via the DVLA to owners of non-compliant vehicles seen in the zone. Information is also being shared with key stakeholders such as London boroughs, national industry groups such as the freight industry, business groups such as the CBI, London First, Accessibility, disability and passenger groups, leisure, tourism and night time economy sector to encourage them to cascade information to their members.

Detailed information about the forthcoming changes as well as a vehicle checker is available on the tfl website at tfl.gov.uk/lez

All key stakeholders have been informed about the launch of the new Direct Vision Standard HGV permit system affecting heavy goods vehicles over 12 tonnes and that the Low Emission Zone standards will be tightening at the end of October 2019. We are communicating these campaigns jointly, as they affect similar stakeholder groups. Given the Low Emission Zone affects heavy vehicles we will work closely with the freight, coach and bus industry both nationally and regionally over the coming year to ensure that companies and drivers are fully aware of the new emissions standards and are prepared in advance. We will also work with other key stakeholders including London boroughs, and nationally and regionally with business groups and the leisure and tourism industries.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt

FOI Case Officer

[email protected]

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