Morris Minor Owners Club

Forget the EU, Boris is at it!
http://www.classicandsportscar.com/news ... ral-london

wot a toss*r ,init

Whilst I would agree with the sentiments but before making up MY mind and passing comment I would like to see what the official Boris statement says.
The link quoted above just gives one side of the story!
Having now looked on the TFL web site It does say that no decision has been made by the stakeholders and its implementation if adopted would take several years before it came into force. But we will see.
You have to read both sides of the story before you can make a proper judgment!
The EU wants to ban all non compliant cars in cities by 2050 but I doubt that I will be around to see it happen.

It's EU regulations again that Boris is following.....

http://nawcp.co.uk/eu-proposals/wedding ... -proposal/

"ADVANCE WARNING
Many of you have heard about the early stages of a proposal by Transport for London (Tfl) to introduce an ‘Ultra Low Emission Zone’ (ULEZ) in London to meet pollution criteria. At present Tfl are talking to stakeholders about the proposal and hope to start a full consultation with all stakeholders and the general public later this year.
The base proposals are:
To ban older petrol powered vehicles that can’t or don’t meet the EU proscribed pollution limits
To ban older diesel powered vehicles that can’t or don’t meet the EU proscribed pollution limits

Who will it affect?
Wedding Cars except the most modern
Wedding buses such as the very popular Routemasters and of course all classic and vintage coaches
Funeral Cars except the most modern
Ice Cream vendors – the majority of which use the old classic traditional vehicles
Travelling Fun Fairs – the majority are using classic Lorries and diesel powered generators
The Second World War II DUKW’s that provide fantastic tours of London and of course down the Thames as well, to many tens of thousands of visitors a year.
The list is endless. We are sure you could all add many other sectors of the transport industry where a large number of vehicles would be banned.
"

I would advise everyone reading this to write to your MP to get an exemption for Historic vehicles.

From what I've read the proposed 'vision' is for the existing LEZ to be extended and for Central London to have a Low / Ultra Low emissions Zone - during working hours - after 2020:

Although still in the early stages of planning, proposals would potentially see the zone cover a similar area as the congestion charge zone and only zero or low emission vehicles driving in central London during working hours after 2020.

Currently classic / historic vehicles are exempt from both the congestion & low emission zone requirements and there has been no suggestion that simply extending the low emission zone would result in any changes to the exemptions. A stakeholder consultation will take place first before any proposals are agreed, and the FBHVC, of which the MMOC is a member, have already been in contact with TFL to clarify whether the exemption for classic / historic vehicles would continue to apply. Keep an eye on their website for any further developments.

No that's not true Louise, Historic vehicles DO have to pay congestion charge. I had to when I was involved in a film shoot a couple of years ago....

Here are the congestion charge exempt vehicles:-
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congest ... /6713.aspx
"Exemptions

You don't have to pay the Congestion Charge or register with us if the vehicle is recorded at the DVLA in one of these categories:
Two-wheeled motorbikes (and sidecars), and mopeds
Emergency service vehicles, such as ambulances and fire engines, which have a taxation class of 'Ambulance' or 'Fire engine'
NHS vehicles that are exempt from road tax
Vehicles used by disabled people that are exempt from road tax and have a 'disabled' taxation class
Vehicles for more than one disabled person (for example Dial-A-Ride) exempt from road tax and have a 'disabled' taxation class

This information will be on your vehicle's V5C (logbook), or if you are unsure, then please contact us.

You are also exempt if your vehicle is a London licensed minicab or taxi (licensed with TfL Taxi and Private Hire).

Other exemptions

Certain vehicles, including buses, registered in European Economic Area member states, must be registered with us to qualify for an exemption.

Other categories of exemption include:
HM Coastguard and Port Authorities
Certain operational vehicles used by the London boroughs
The armed forces
Royal Parks Agency
Breakdown organisations"

So as historic vehicles are not exempt from congestion charge, there is a real danger we could be banned from cities, starting with central London and eventually encompassing even regional cities such as Canterbury or Bath....

Not good....

I stand corrected John - think i got confused with my modern which is exempt from everything! It's a moot point though as the 'vision' relates to expansion of the LEZ, which historic vehicles are currently exempt from, rather than an expansion of the congestion charge zone.

I know from experience that classics aren't exempt - Dodo got a fine a couple years ago on one of the days that wasn't a Bank Holiday between Christmas and New Year

I shall be writing to my MLA (Member of the London Assembly) as it's a local rather than national issue - fellow Londoners can find their MLA here http://london.gov.uk/mayor-assembly/lon ... ly/members you can lobby both your borough's representative and the Londonwide members.

I always feel I'm doing my bit for the London tourist trade when driving Dodo or Ursula around Trafalgar Square or over Tower Bridge!