Mayor responds to ULEZ threat to London-Brighton Veteran Car Run

Conservative London Assembly member and deputy mayor Victoria Borwick tabled an official question to her boss Boris Johnson earlier this year asking for confirmation that new ultra low emission zone restrictions will not prevent the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run from taking place.

The Veteran Car Run takes place every November and features hundreds of cars built before 1905. The route includes Westminster Bridge, Westminster Bridge Road and Kennington Road.

The run was first held in 1896 to celebrate the Locomotives on the Highway Act which permitted road vehicles to increase their top speed from 4 mph to 14 mph and dispensed with the requirement that cars be preceded by a man on foot bearing a red flag.

Mr Johnson last year announced plans for an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in central London from 2020.

The Mayor's reply to Ms Borwick's question has just been published. He said: "The proposals for ULEZ are still being developed.

"Stakeholder feedback is helping to shape a final proposal for public consultation in late 2014.

"At this point we will specify which vehicles will be required to meet proposed emission standards. You will be pleased to note that an outright ban on vehicles is not an option that is currently being considered.

"TfL is currently considering which exemptions should apply to the ULEZ and it is too early to state what will or won't be exempted.

"TfL is very unlikely to prevent events like the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run taking place.

"Currently all VED exempt vehicles (vehicles registered prior to 1974) are excluded from London's Low Emission Zone."

• This year's Bonhams Veteran Car Run takes place on Sunday 2 November.