The city authorities in Florence have ruled that from 1 January 2005 they will not renew entry permits for the historic centre to sports utility vehicles (SUV), jeeps, and four wheel drive cars which weigh more than Kg1800 or have wheels which are more than 70 cm in diameter. The measure has been taken to help reduce pollution and because these vehicles take up too much room. Ermete Realacci the president of the ecologist's league, Legambiente, has expressed his approval of this decision and says that he hopes that other Italian cities, with historic centres in need of protection, will follow suit.