An estimated 700,000 drivers face paying £12.50 a day from August as the controversial Ulez scheme is expanded
campaigners have urged the Government to help drivers with the cost of replacing cars that breach London’s controversial Ultra Low Emission Zone .
A legal battle over Ulez looms after a coalition of four Conservative-led London councils and Surrey joined forces to launch a judicial review in a bid to halt the expansion, which City Hall says will slash pollution and improve children’s health.Ruth’s six-year-old son was diagnosed with asthma when he was one and has been rushed to hospital several times
“It’s not just seeing him in hospital whenever we’ve been there. There’s been multiple other children also on nebulizers and oxygen.”Ruth, who is now campaigning for cleaner air and welcomes the Ulez expansion, said: “Air pollution blows around and doesn’t have boundaries. Manchester, where a row between local leaders and the Government over charging non-compliant vehicles has led to the city’s CAZ being stalled, had seen an increase in traffic over the past few years, he added.Oliver Lord, from the Clean Cities Campaign, has called for the Government to work with the London mayor’s office
Since the expansion was announced in November, the Ulez debate has turned toxic, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan claiming “Covid deniers, conspiracy theorists and Nazis” have infiltrated protests against the scheme.Vicky, 38, lives in Havering with her partner and his 87-year-old father, who is unable to walk and relies on his son to take him to appointments.
“Since the Ulez expansion was announced, and on top of mounting financial pressure, all of our mental health has suffered considerably. “Most people understand the environmental concerns but for many, a car is an essential tool for their mobility and well-being where poor public transport fails to offer a viable alternative.
She pointed to figures showing between eight and 12 children die from asthma in London each year, with around a quarter of a million suffering from asthma.“Those figures by the way, guess what? They’ve never changed [since Ella’s death]. They actually remain the same,” she added. “Whenever you bring in a scheme, especially when you have to pay for it. I am well aware that no matter how much you expand it, or try and include everyone, there will always be people who are adversely affected,” she added.
The cost of second-hand cars has soared in recent years, with a recent analysis by Autotrader showing there were just 5,150 Ulez-compliant cars on sale in London for £5,000 or less. Of the eight cities with CAZs, only Bristol and Birmingham , with are both in Class D, charge non-compliant private cars.Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee are introducing Low Emission Zones between June, 2023 and 2024, with a £30 charge for non-compliant vehicles.Greater Manchester’s CAZ, which was due to start last May, was mothballed following a public backlash which saw the Government agree to pause its plans, with a decision on the scheme not expected until at least the summer.
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