A grandfather from London has slammed plans for the Ultra Low Emission Zone to be expanded, claiming he will now have to pay £12.50 any time he wants to leave his home by car.
Paul Savage, 77, has criticised the Mayor of London’s plans to expand the ULEZ to his home borough of Harrow, calling it “frustrating”.
According to MyLondon, Paul told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “As soon as I come out of my drive I’ll have to pay £12.50. I’m retired so I don’t need a car very often but I am going to have to get a smaller one.”
He went on to say that the charge will affect other members of his family, including his grandchildren, who will now have to go to school by public transport. Paul also admitted that he feels residents can do nothing to stop the charge.
London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, announced that plans are in motion for the ULEZ to cover the whole of Greater London.
The plans will affect drivers who own petrol cars registered before 2005 and diesel cars registered before 2015.
Persons driving cars that are non-compliant in Harrow will be subject to a daily charge of £12.50.
The Conservative-led Harrow Council has issued a response to the plans, releasing a statement detailing its refusal to cooperate with Transport for London (TfL), and that it will not be putting up the ULEZ cameras in an attack on the plans.
Harrow’s leadership, in conjunction with Hillingdon, Bexley, and Bromley councils, wrote a letter to the Mayor of London, saying it is “strongly opposed” to the plans.
The letter cited “adverse effects” the ULEZ expansion will have on residents, businesses, and visitors.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London issued the response that the ULEZ expansion is “necessary”.
They stated that the expansion of the ULEZ will reduce the capital’s air pollution, tackle the climate emergency and cut congestion.
They added: “Around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to the toxic air in our city with the greatest number of deaths attributable to air pollution in London’s outer boroughs, which the ULEZ doesn’t currently cover. Children across London are growing up with stunted lungs and developing asthma because they are breathing this toxic air.
“TfL will work closely and collaboratively with all boroughs to ensure the infrastructure required will be installed in a way that is suitable so we can build a greener, safer London for everyone.”
