Medef and CPME “sound the alarm”
The ZFE is far from unanimous in Toulouse. The Medef and the CPME are sounding the alarm on the ZFE, after the announcement of an “automated sanction control” system will be put in place for 2024.
The establishment of Low Emission Zones (ZFE) continues to be forced. The first ministerial monitoring committee for these areas announced on Tuesday October 25 the establishment of an automated control system for vehicles prohibited from circular traffic in urban areas such as Toulouse by the second half of 2024.
In order to fight against air pollution, a ZFE is set up on the territory of Toulouse since March 1, 2022. It provides for the exclusion of the most polluting vehicles, gradually until 2024. This zone encompasses “a large part of Toulouse inside the ring road, as well as a small part of Colomiers and Tournefeuille, i.e. a perimeter of 72 km2”, according to Toulouse Métropole.
The ZFE in Toulouse is a “relevant tool”, but…
the Medef and the CPMR of Haute-Garonne is sounding the alarm on this subject. Admittedly, they represent “that the ZFE constitutes a relevant tool for improving air quality in the urban agglomeration and the areas which are subject to regular overruns of standards”.
“However, the proliferation of crises, despite post-consultation progress with Toulouse Métropole, is today pushing Medef 31 and CPME 31 to unite their voices to sound the alarm. This is a subject that concerns all the neighboring territories, where the majority of employees live who will be impacted by the establishment of the ZFE”, write the two organizations according to which “the ZFE directly impacts the life of companies”.
Thus, for example, with the ZFE, two thirds of the employees of the Toulouse company Yeo Frais, a major player in the ultra-fresh agri-food sector, could no longer return to town, according to the two organizations.
Proposals from Medef and CPME
They therefore make a series of complaints:
– Carry out health impact studies, invoiced by law, to assess the expected benefits in terms of restriction, according to both Crit’Air classifications and also according to Euro vehicle standards; and communicate them to economic actors
– Carry out, in addition, socio-economic impact studies, in order to assess the best cost/effectiveness ratio of the restriction measures; and communicate them to economic actors
– Identify the planned plans, including in the form of paid derogations (Ex: X passes cards) to respond to exceptional situations;
– Organize consultation by involving all the players concerned, in particular the representatives of economic players in addition to the consular chambers.
– Conduct local, readable, measurable and accessible communication campaigns showing the benefits, in particular health benefits and the expected consequences, according to each of the levels of restriction selected
– Set up additional financial aid at the regional level to support the renewal of the vehicle fleet and create a one-stop shop, particularly for businesses
– Create a monitoring committee dedicated to the establishment of m-ZFEs at the regional level to work on the harmonization of ZFEs, financial aid and propose support tools (means of public transport, transport infrastructure, etc.) recharge…)
– Advocate for the creation, on a national scale, of an intermediate sticker between level 2 and level 1 for diesel vehicles meeting Euro6 standards and above.