Lorries using fringe roads to avoid paying emission fee

A large section of Northwood has been left out of the zone, so lorries can use the roads and avoid having to pay to enter Greater London.

So instead of benefitting from the scheme, residents have to put up with extra pollution and traffic.

Lisa Maclay of Carew Road is a member of Northwood Residents' Association and is not happy about being excluded from the zone.

She said: "This is supposed to be a move to improve the air quality for all Londoners, and obviously we don't count as Londoners because it's not convenient to do so.

"We don't get the benefits of being in the Greater London area where other parts of Northwood are, and it's bringing pollution right into the centre of Northwood.

"It obviously suits TfL for us to be in it sometimes and not others."

All the roads in the triangle north of Green Lane, between Rickmansworth Road and Watford Road, are excluded.

Tony Ellis of Kewferry Road, which is also outside the zone, has noticed a lot more lorries using his road since the zone came into effect in February.

He said: "There is meant to be a seven-and-a-half tonne limit but it seems to be ignored on a fairly regular basis now and obviously no one is enforcing it.

"I don't see why we should be excluded. They shouldn't be turning round in residential roads."

The Low Emission Zone only affects vehicles of more than 12 tonnes.

A TfL spokesperson said: "The boundary was carefully planned in close consultation with local authorities and the Highways Agency to ensure that there are safe turning points or diversionary routes for vehicles at every entrance point to the zone.

"The boundary is as close as practicable to the Greater London Authority administrative boundary, so follows the edge of the outer London boroughs."