The Fab Five... new schemes for cutting toxic air and road deaths

Bid to slash thousands of refuse truck trips

FIVE revolutionary new schemes aimed at cleaning London’s air and cutting the number of road deaths in the capital have been unveiled to the Standard.

Spearheading the plans for freight, backed by Transport for London, is a project to ship thousands of tons of waste, generated by the booming houseboat population, by barge instead of by road-going refuse trucks.

The projects have been revealed as TfL races to meet City Hall’s transport strategy targets to make roads safer and reduce the number of lorries and vans entering central London in the morning peak by 10 per cent, by 2026. It also comes as TfL figures reveal goods vehicle movements in London have increased by around 20 per cent since 2010, contributing to poor air quality, congestion and road danger. Other n ove l s c h e me s s u p p o r te d by T f L include waste being collected by electric vehicles, trucks fitted with special cabs making it easier to spot cyclists, big new underground waste bunkers in inner London and new “cycle freight” infrastructure.

“We are working with businesses across London to help create and maintain healthy streets and reduce road danger, air pollution and congestion,” said Emily Herreras-Griffiths, who heads TfL’s travel demand management programme.

“We’ve seen the value small changes to the way businesses receive or make deliveries and other services can bring, which is why we’re supporting these schemes.” TfL has shared its plans with the Standard and they are shown on the right.