The Mayor of London has launched the first Low Emission Bus Zone to “tackle toxic air” in Putney.  

Putney High Street consistently goes over the legal annual limit of emissions. It exceeded hourly legal levels of nitrogen dioxide 1,248 times in 2016 compared to the recommended maximum 18.  

A report released by Sadiq Khan last week showed that Wandsworth had some of the highest levels of air pollution in the last two years. 

The clean bus zone, which runs a total of 145 buses on seven scheduled routes, will now be serviced by cleaner buses.  

The zone, which will now be serviced by cleaner buses with the aim of cutting harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, runs from Putney Station to Putney Bridge Road and includes 145 buses on seven routes. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s toxic air is an outrage and I promised to make cleaning it up one of my top priorities. 

“Today, I’m delivering on that pledge by introducing our first ever Low Emission Bus Zone. I have asked TfL to remove the oldest, dirtiest buses from our streets and this new route, along with the 11 others we’ll be introducing, will make a big difference to the pollution caused by our public transport system.

“I now need other cities around the world to work with me to demand cleaner bus technology so we can phase out diesel buses altogether.‎

“There is nothing more important to me than safeguarding the health of Londoners.

“I’m doing everything in my power to both transform London’s bus fleet and target areas with the worst pollution so that the streets we live and work in are better places to be.”

The Mayor said he could not do it alone, however, and called on the Government to “take their responsibility seriously”.

He urged it to introduce a national diesel scrappage fund and give him the powers to deal with other sources of air pollution.

GLA Conservatives transport spokesman Keith Prince said the move was as "step in the right direction".

However, Mr Prince added: "Even more could be achieved if the Mayor abandoned his misdirected extension of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) and focused on more green bus fleets.

"Electric buses introduced on Oxford Street by Boris reduced pollution by nearly a third in 12 months, which shows the impact they can have.

"The estimated £780million cost of expanding the ULEZ into greener areas of London would be better spent introducing low emission bus zones on more of the worst polluted routes."

Following Putney, there will be eleven more Low Emission Bus Zones, with the Brixton and Streatham zone expected in October. The remaining zones are set to be implemented by 2020.  

The locations of the Low Emission Bus Zones are:

1.       Putney High Street – from Putney Station to Putney Bridge Road

2.       Brixton to Streatham – from Brixton Hill via Stockwell Road and Streatham High Road to Streatham Place

3.       A12 Eastern Avenue – from Blake Hall Road via High Road Leyton and Homerton High Street to Marsh Hill

4.       Lewisham to Catford – from Bromley Road via Rushey Green to Lewisham High Street

5.       Stratford – from Abbey Lane via Mile End Road to Woodgrange Road

6.       Harringay – from High Road to Green Lanes

7.       Camberwell to New Cross – from Blackheath Road via Camberwell Green and Peckham High Street to Wood’s Green

8.       Wandsworth to St John’s Hill – from Lavender Hill to Wandsworth Road

9.       Edgware Road (Kilburn to Maida Vale) – from Cricklewood Broadway via Kilburn High Road to Shoot-Up Hill

10.   Edmonton to Seven Sisters – from Amhurst Park via Green Lanes and Seven Sisters Road to The Broadway

11.   Uxbridge Road to Shepherds Bush – from Ealing Broadway via Hanger Lane to Uxbridge Road, The Broadway

12.   Chiswick High Road to Kensington – via Hammersmith Broadway and Kensington High Street to Studland Street. 

Dr Penny Woods, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation, said the introduction of Low Emission Bus Zones was “critical” in the battle for clean air.

She said: “Air pollution contributes to over 9,000 early deaths a year in London. People with a lung condition, children and the elderly are extremely vulnerable.

“The Mayor now needs support from government; a fair and ambitious new Clean Air Act with targets to reduce pollution levels. Londoners’ lungs demand it.”    

Jonathan Cook, deputy leader of Wandsworth Council said the move was “another step in the right direction”. 

Of Wandsworth he said: “Kings College London confirms this is one of only a few places in London were pollution levels have actually fallen in recent years and this stems directly from years of investment in the bus fleet.

“A lot more remains to be done, we will monitor the impacts closely and continue to make the case for Putney and other congested streets in Wandsworth to get the investment they so badly need.”

Leon Daniels, TfL’s managing director of surface transport, said: “It is now clear that London is facing a serious air quality issue and our customers increasingly want greener buses to play a key role in tackling the problem.”