Mote End riding centre beats London’s low emission zone

Mote End Farm and Livery Stables in London has found an innovative way to beat the low emission zone (LEZ) for competitors visiting its events.

The main entrance to the venue, in Mill Hill, north London, is within the new zone, which imposes a £200 charge on older, more polluting horse lorries.

But its land extends to a road on the cusp of the LEZ and the centre is going to make a new “competition entrance” there.

Farm manager Adam Prescott said: “We are right on the border of the LEZ which is a real pain and, ironically, this is the first year that we have a full calendar of events.

“We are putting down plastic mesh on the field by a side entrance that leads on to a road which is not within the zone, and those competitors with non-compliant lorries can park up there and hack in.”

Mr Prescott says it will be a five- or 10-minute ride from the lorry park to the competition areas at the centre.

The season starts at Mote End Farm with a show jumping competition on 20 April.

The LEZ affects horseboxes that are more than six years old unless they are fitted with a pollution filter. At present only lorries weighing 12 tonnes or more are affected, but from July boxes over 3.5 tonnes will be included. The fine is £200.

To find out whether a venue is within the LEZ, visit http://lezlondon.tfl.gov.uk/lez/zone/default.aspx

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