The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has called for more support for companies that want to make their vehicles compliant with the Low Emission Zone. The proposals, set out by London Mayor Ken Livingstone earlier this month, will mean heavy goods vehicles (HGV), buses and coaches with diesel engines, which are not compliant with low emission levels, will be charged £200 per day for using the Zone in London. Drivers of vans or minibuses, which are not compliant, will face a charge of £100 per day. The FPB is concerned that smaller firms will be left with a costly bill for upgrading or replacing their current vehicles and that the introduction of the scheme has made their current vehicles virtually worthless.

Malcolm Donnellan is a member of the FPB and director at Discount Builder Supplies in London. His company operates a fleet of three seven-and-a-half-tonne HGVs, which would cost him £60,000 to replace.

"Overnight, the Mayor has raised the standards for vehicle emissions. This will have a huge impact on my business,” said Donnellan. “We may be able to cope with the extra cost, but others won’t. How can it be fair that vehicles such as mine can be run across the country but not in London?"

With Transport for London (TfL) refusing to provide grants for firms wishing to upgrade, Victoria Carson, the FPB’s Campaigns Manager, said that there must be more support.

"TfL will no doubt be happy to collect the charges incurred by companies even if it is not prepared to support them in meeting the new emissions levels. More must be done to encourage companies to take up these improvements rather than just hitting them in the pocket at every opportunity," she said.

TfL is encouraging companies to upgrade their vehicles to reduce emissions and make them compliant with the new standards that will come into force in 2008. Every company that upgrades its vehicles in this way and meets the standards set by the Vehicle Operator and Standards Agency (VOSA) will gain a Reduced Pollution Certificate (RPC), which entitles them to vehicle excise duty discounts.