H&H Lead Story - LEZ applicable to horseboxes

[tigers_eye]

If anyone wants to react to the story that H&H covered TFL is running a consultation until 2nd Feb here . I don't think my yard falls into it but from looking at the map I think my feed marchants does, as does neighbouring Littlebourne EC. I say this to demonstrate that horseboxes will be affected.

As an example of how this would work if I was affected, I would probably have to dispose of my lorry as it is an early 80s model, and I simply don't have the money to replace it with one modern enough to comply. So I'd probably have to get a trailer and a big car, which I will also be taxed more for, and I will have to take another test after forking out for my HGV licence.... Emigration is looking increasingly appealing...

 

[Skhosu]

But why should horseboxes be exempt? Surely they are therefore causing pollution and should be removed? Maybe the govt could do grants or something..

 

[Rambo]

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But why should horseboxes be exempt?

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Horseboxes are exempt from many of the commercial vehicle laws as they are private vehicles and do relatively low mileage. Why shouldn't they be exempt ?

Anyway, this isn't about pollution...it's about how many ways Ken Livingstone can find to raise funds for the Olympics and other crazy schemes that he commits to but can't afford

 

[Tempi]

i agree, its another crazy money making idea, like all the other ones that have been popping up recently.

 

[pootler]

I was actually called for my views from an agency representing TFL and the low emission zone. I also live in a London Borough that has one of the highest incidences of asthma in the UK due to air pollution from traffic.

I have a child too and as much as I love competing my horse, I think improving air quality is more important than being able to use my lorry once a week to go to shows. I actually supported the introduction of charging for non-compliant vehicles even though I would be affected myself.

Unfortunately horse owners will be hit by the legislation but equally I think horse owners are more likely to have lorries that are old and have high emissions.

I do sympathise with box owners who will be hit but people do have until mid 2008 before the legislation comes into force for 3.5 to 12 tonne HGVs. That's 18 months to save and prepare for the changes.

For what it's worth I think even hearses and ambulances are not going to be exempt.

To find out more info on the LEZ initiative go to http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/low-emission-zone/

 

[henryhorn]

I think all of us are aware of the threat of climate change and most people actually try to do their bit, from recycling to low watt light bulbs.
I get pretty frustrated however as like the horse box proposed ruling, they don't think things through enough before deciding to go for them.
By all means ensure new lorries are now made with low emissions, but attacking the older ones especially boxes is not really that fair. A horse box is often used once a week and that's all. Compare that with the planes currently polluting the skies and what about the cruise ships? you can't tell me they aren't producing massive amounts of emissions from fuel!
Our local council expects us to recycle and save energy. Fine, but they insist our used tins are washed out, only in my case I have spring water run by electricity so every time I wash a tin in water, it's using electricity to do it.
They have us seperate rubbish into plastic, tins, bottles, newspapers, landfill and composted rubbish bins. That means 6 bins in our case, each one needing a different waggon to collect it, how can that be energy and pollution saving?!!!!
The programme on the other day showed that unless China and Korea etc made massive attempts to stop emissions, anything we do here is pretty futile.
I am so glad I don't live near London, you can tell Mr Livingstone isn't self employed or he wouldn't be putting such pressure on self employed businesses, how they survive I truly can't imagine.
I too am busy making plans for a second home out of this country, when the time is right off we'll go, and there are more and more people like me fed up with paying huge chunks of taxes re Capital Gains/Inheritance etc. It's hard to accept when you have used your money to keep lots of people employed that when you die the Government want 40 % which you could have wasted on holidays wild partying etc.. The priorities are all wrong.
Sorry I;ve hijacked your original post, but I do totally disagree with the ruling for old lorries, it's another sly attack on anyone they feel has enough money to run a box at all..
I sometimes feel like a rat in a trap, taxed to the hilt, rues about this and that everywhere, cameras,