28/01/2017 London News

Goodbye.

Good evening, welcome to BBC London News, I'm Sonja Jessup.

Drivers of diesel cars in central London will have to pay 50% extra

to park from April, as part of plans to tackle air pollution.

Westminster will become the first council in the UK to introduce

the extra charges for visitors.

Sarah Harris has this report.

If you're parking a diesel vehicle in this part of London,

it'll cost around ?2.50 an hour more from April 3rd.

Westminster City Council is to trial the rise,

to reduce diesel emissions.

Liza Till parks her diesel van on Marylebone High Street for work,

and feels she's being unfairly penalised.

Well, the reason I bought a diesel was because the Government told us

that they were better.

Now, all of a you had is, they say they don't want them on the roads,

they're going to charge us more.

We've got to try and sell our cars.

They're not going to sell, are they?

They're worth nothing now.

This part of the capital has some of the worst air

pollution in Europe, causing heart and lung

disease and thousands of premature deaths every year.

Environmentalists welcomed this as a first step in banning

diesel from the streets of London altogether.

These sort of actions are long over due.

The Government has lost two consecutive court cases demanding

they take more and quicker action, that hes a true for local

authorities as well.

We know that air pollution is now at lethal and illegal levels.

80% of that pollution comes from traffic, from motor vehicles,

and the vast majority of that from diesel engines.

So there's no excuse, we need to take action.

If the trial is a success, Westminster Council will roll it out

across the rest of the city, with other boroughs

likely to follow.

The aim is to reduce emissions by the polluter pays

principle, making the capital a healthier place.

Sarah Harris, BBC London News.

Homelessness in the capital is on the rise

and it's not just people sleeping rough on the streets.

Charities are worried about the increasing numbers

of so-called "hidden homeless", often vulnerable people moving

between temporary accommodation.

Now, one East London group is exploring new ways to support them,

as Helen Mulroy reports.

Monica Leon knows first-hand how easy it is to become homeless.

I got evicted and I got kicked out for rent arrears.

I've tried to get some help for support, but

not getting nowhere.

She's one of the thousands of so-called hidden homeless

across the capital, without a permanent place to live,

moving between friends and family just to keep a roof over her head.

I'm here and there at the moment.

I'm staying with my mum for the time being, so I can get myself sorted.

It is hard.

It's very hard.

Monica sought help from the Whitechapel Mission,

a London charity taking a more creative approach to tackling

the issues behind homelessness.

Today is Women's Day, welcome!

Hair, nails and facials are on offer for the ladies

here at the Whitechapel Mission.

The idea being that by providing them with a little bit of pampering,

it can boost their confidence and their self-esteem.

Many of the women we're working with are isolated and alone.

We want to actually try and give a very positive message,

raise their self-esteem and understand they have true value

and they need to recognise that as much as anybody else.

If we're going to move forward with housing issues

or any other issues, they need to be in a

positive place first.

Mission volunteer and former beauty salon owner Roxanna

came up with the idea.

When you wear a bit of make-up, a lipstick, have your hair

done, you just feel, you feel more empowered.

You feel like you can go and do what you want to do.

It's about feeling good about yourself,

and it is for every woman, really.

That was nice today, yeah, that was lovely.

I don't really get myself pampered very much.

Do you feel a bit special?

Today, yes.

I've got my nails done, and my dinner and all that, yeah, lovely.

A small gesture maybe, but a first step to making homeless

women like Monica hidden no longer.

A 76-year-old man has died after being hit by a moped

in central London last night.

The driver stopped at the scene on Mount Street.

Police are appealing for witnesses.

Celebrations marking the start of Chinese New Year have been taking

place in London's Chinatown.

These colourful lions have been dancing

through the streets to welcome the Year of the Rooster.

The main event of course is tomorrow with a huge parade,

starting from Trafalgar Square.

A quick look at tomorrow's weather.

Starting off cloudy and damp, then brightening up,

but with more showers around later.

A top temperature of nine Celsius.

That's all for now, I'll be back tomorrow

night at 6.20pm.

Hope you can join us then.

Do enjoy your evening.

Bye-bye.