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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Ross Lydall

London borough could become the first to drive out diesel cars

Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision to cut fuel duty was met with caution by motoring groups and criticised by public transport and environmental campaigners (Dominic Lipinski/PA) (Picture: PA Wire)

Islington could become the first London borough where drivers stop buying new diesel cars, eco campaigners claimed on Tuesday.

Diesels accounted for less than eight per cent of the new cars registered in London last year, down from 20 per cent two years earlier, according to analysis by the Clean Cities Campaign.

By comparison, the number of electric cars almost doubled year on year to more than 13 per cent of new cars in the capital.

Researchers estimate that only 69 new diesel cars were registered in Islington last year - compared with more than 600 in 2016.

They predict that if the trend continues then there may be no new diesels in the north London borough by mid 2023.

At present, 6,818 diesels are registered in the borough but a surcharge on residents’ parking permits, introduced by the council in 2015, is credited with helping to reduce their popularity.

By comparison, 28 per cent of residents’ cars in Wandsworth are diesel - putting it on par with Havering, Hillingdon and Hounslow.

Clean Cities campaigners and sister organisation Mums for Lungs want councils to stop issuing CPZ permits from next year for newly registered diesels, except for blue badge holders.

The research estimates that 8,529 new diesel cars were registered in London last year, plus 114,663 petrol vehicles and 15,223 fully electric cars.

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