Mums for Lungs: Stop issuing new parking permits for diesel vehicles, clean air group urges

A clean air campaign group has called on councils to stop issuing new permits for diesel cars, as a south London borough becomes the latest to introduce surcharges for those with more polluting vehicles.

Mums for Lungs is pushing London councils to stop handing out the permits to those driving diesel cars, with the exception of Blue Badge holders. Residents who already own a diesel vehicle would not be affected, they said, as their permits would continue to be honoured.

The group also wants every borough to phase out all diesel car parking permits by 2030, with controlled parking zones across the whole of London.

Jemima Hartshorn, a parent who lives in Southwark and organises the Mums for Lungs group, said: “We are on the cusp of something historic with the end of diesel fumes. But we won’t get there without local leadership from councillors and candidates. Let’s make polluting cars a distant memory.”

The group made the announcement ahead of its Clean Air Carnival, to be hosted at Elmgreen School, Lambeth, later today (June 8).

Councillors from Southwark and Lambeth will be in attendance, as will parents and schoolchildren.

Organised to herald the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), penned in for August 29, Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, will be among those taking questions from children concerned about air pollution.

Lambeth Council will also be discussing its new policy, introduced on May 30, which updated its parking charges to be costed depending on the vehicle’s carbon dioxide emissions. Lambeth is the latest to implement such a scheme, with similar initiatives previously introduced in boroughs such as Islington.

The pricing structure includes further costs for diesel vehicles which are non-compliant with Euro 6 emission standards, with the council’s website detailing the additional surcharge is £60.20 for three months, £84 for six months, and £140 for an annual permit. The council says the new charges have been introduced “to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve air quality”.

Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, deputy leader of Lambeth Council, who leads on clean air, said: “Our air is toxic, and people die prematurely from London’s dirty air. The people most at risk are our most vulnerable citizens, our children and people with underlying health issues. It’s really important that we clean up our air, so we have recently taken the decision to charge vehicles based on their emissions, those polluting more having to pay more, and diesel cars facing an additional charge.

“In Lambeth we’re keen to make it easier for people to walk or cycle instead, we’re committed to making it safe to cycle and also safe to store a bike across our streets and estates, we want to have as many bike hangars as possible, as we know there is high demand for these.”

According to department for transport (DfT) data from 201, Wandsworth was the London borough with the highest percentage of vehicles being diesel (28%), with Bexley recording the most new diesel cars registered in 2021 (516). Islington reported the least, with 69.

Clean Air Carnival is on between 3.45pm and 5.30pm on June 8, at Elmgreen School, Elmcourt Road, Lambeth. For more information, see the Mums for Lungs webpage on the event here.

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