0:00:02 > 0:00:05Goodbye.
0:00:11 > 0:00:16Good evening, welcome to BBC London News, I'm Sonja Jessup.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20Drivers of diesel cars in central London will have to pay 50% extra
0:00:20 > 0:00:23to park from April, as part of plans to tackle air pollution.
0:00:23 > 0:00:30Westminster will become the first council in the UK to introduce
0:00:30 > 0:00:31the extra charges for visitors.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Sarah Harris has this report.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38If you're parking a diesel vehicle in this part of London,
0:00:38 > 0:00:44it'll cost around ?2.50 an hour more from April 3rd.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46Westminster City Council is to trial the rise,
0:00:46 > 0:00:47to reduce diesel emissions.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51Liza Till parks her diesel van on Marylebone High Street for work,
0:00:51 > 0:00:55and feels she's being unfairly penalised.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Well, the reason I bought a diesel was because the Government told us
0:00:58 > 0:01:00that they were better.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04Now, all of a you had is, they say they don't want them on the roads,
0:01:04 > 0:01:05they're going to charge us more.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07We've got to try and sell our cars.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09They're not going to sell, are they?
0:01:09 > 0:01:11They're worth nothing now.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14This part of the capital has some of the worst air
0:01:14 > 0:01:16pollution in Europe, causing heart and lung
0:01:16 > 0:01:20disease and thousands of premature deaths every year.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Environmentalists welcomed this as a first step in banning
0:01:23 > 0:01:25diesel from the streets of London altogether.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28These sort of actions are long over due.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33The Government has lost two consecutive court cases demanding
0:01:33 > 0:01:36they take more and quicker action, that hes a true for local
0:01:36 > 0:01:37authorities as well.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40We know that air pollution is now at lethal and illegal levels.
0:01:40 > 0:01:4280% of that pollution comes from traffic, from motor vehicles,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45and the vast majority of that from diesel engines.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48So there's no excuse, we need to take action.
0:01:48 > 0:01:56If the trial is a success, Westminster Council will roll it out
0:01:56 > 0:01:58across the rest of the city, with other boroughs
0:01:58 > 0:01:59likely to follow.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01The aim is to reduce emissions by the polluter pays
0:02:01 > 0:02:03principle, making the capital a healthier place.
0:02:03 > 0:02:10Sarah Harris, BBC London News.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12Homelessness in the capital is on the rise
0:02:12 > 0:02:14and it's not just people sleeping rough on the streets.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Charities are worried about the increasing numbers
0:02:16 > 0:02:18of so-called "hidden homeless", often vulnerable people moving
0:02:18 > 0:02:19between temporary accommodation.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Now, one East London group is exploring new ways to support them,
0:02:22 > 0:02:23as Helen Mulroy reports.
0:02:23 > 0:02:30Monica Leon knows first-hand how easy it is to become homeless.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33I got evicted and I got kicked out for rent arrears.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38I've tried to get some help for support, but
0:02:38 > 0:02:39not getting nowhere.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41She's one of the thousands of so-called hidden homeless
0:02:41 > 0:02:43across the capital, without a permanent place to live,
0:02:43 > 0:02:47moving between friends and family just to keep a roof over her head.
0:02:47 > 0:02:48I'm here and there at the moment.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52I'm staying with my mum for the time being, so I can get myself sorted.
0:02:52 > 0:02:53It is hard.
0:02:53 > 0:02:54It's very hard.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56Monica sought help from the Whitechapel Mission,
0:02:56 > 0:02:59a London charity taking a more creative approach to tackling
0:02:59 > 0:03:04the issues behind homelessness.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Today is Women's Day, welcome!
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Hair, nails and facials are on offer for the ladies
0:03:08 > 0:03:12here at the Whitechapel Mission.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15The idea being that by providing them with a little bit of pampering,
0:03:15 > 0:03:19it can boost their confidence and their self-esteem.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22Many of the women we're working with are isolated and alone.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24We want to actually try and give a very positive message,
0:03:24 > 0:03:32raise their self-esteem and understand they have true value
0:03:32 > 0:03:35and they need to recognise that as much as anybody else.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37If we're going to move forward with housing issues
0:03:37 > 0:03:40or any other issues, they need to be in a
0:03:40 > 0:03:41positive place first.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43Mission volunteer and former beauty salon owner Roxanna
0:03:43 > 0:03:45came up with the idea.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47When you wear a bit of make-up, a lipstick, have your hair
0:03:47 > 0:03:49done, you just feel, you feel more empowered.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52You feel like you can go and do what you want to do.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54It's about feeling good about yourself,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56and it is for every woman, really.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58That was nice today, yeah, that was lovely.
0:03:58 > 0:03:59I don't really get myself pampered very much.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Do you feel a bit special?
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Today, yes.
0:04:03 > 0:04:12I've got my nails done, and my dinner and all that, yeah, lovely.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14A small gesture maybe, but a first step to making homeless
0:04:14 > 0:04:18women like Monica hidden no longer.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21A 76-year-old man has died after being hit by a moped
0:04:21 > 0:04:22in central London last night.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24The driver stopped at the scene on Mount Street.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Police are appealing for witnesses.
0:04:29 > 0:04:36Celebrations marking the start of Chinese New Year have been taking
0:04:36 > 0:04:37place in London's Chinatown.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42These colourful lions have been dancing
0:04:42 > 0:04:45through the streets to welcome the Year of the Rooster.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48The main event of course is tomorrow with a huge parade,
0:04:48 > 0:04:49starting from Trafalgar Square.
0:04:49 > 0:04:50A quick look at tomorrow's weather.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Starting off cloudy and damp, then brightening up,
0:04:52 > 0:04:53but with more showers around later.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55A top temperature of nine Celsius.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57That's all for now, I'll be back tomorrow
0:04:57 > 0:04:58night at 6.20pm.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59Hope you can join us then.
0:04:59 > 0:05:00Do enjoy your evening.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Bye-bye.