As part of our ongoing battle to clean up the borough, we have been testing vehicle emissions around the borough in August 2007 and October 2007.
Our Environmental Protection Officers and the Police stopped and tested approximately 40 vehicles on each occasion. In October 2007 all the vehicles passed, but in August 2007 4 vehicles failed the tests and were found to be emitting 4 times the level of accepted pollutants.
The drivers were issued with warning letters informing them why they had failed the test and what they could do in future to pass.
Vehicles that produce high emissions could be wasting fuel, polluting the environment and be hazardous to health.
Driving a vehicle that produces emissions over the legal limit is an offence and residents can be issued with a £60 fixed penalty notice.
Emission testing is one of the ways that raises awareness of the issues related to vehicle emissions and reduce the number of heavily polluting vehicles on the road.
All Councils are required by law to undertake a review of local air quality, this involves monitoring air quality around the borough and predicting where the national standards are likely to fall.
We have already set up an air quality management area along the A13 and an action plan has been drawn up to see how pollution levels can be improved.
Councillor Milton McKenzie, Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability, said:
"Once of the main causes of poor air quality is road vehicles, fuels used to provide electricity and heating in offices, factories and homes and vapours from petrol and certain industrial premises.
"Air quality not only affects those who live and work in the area, but anyone those who uses the roads in Barking and Dagenham.
He added: "Reducing the emissions produced by cars and lorries and is just one of the ways we can have a cleaner and greener borough."
Business Support Team
Environmental and Enforcement Services
Roycraft House
15 Linton Road
Barking
IG11 8HE
Supported by Barking and Dagenham Direct:
Tel: 020 8215 3000
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: 3000direct@lbbd.gov.uk|
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm.
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© 2008 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Civic Centre
Rainham Road North, Dagenham, RM10 7BN
Telephone: 020 8215 3000
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: enquiries@lbbd.gov.uk|
Telephone: 020 8594 8356
Fax: 020 8227 3470