We the undersign call on the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan to honour the outcome of the consultation into extending the so-called Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ). The Mayor is extending the ULEZ zone out to Bromley from August 2023, which will mean local residents may be charged £12.50 every time they drive their car, despite the current pressures on the cost of living.
Individual resident responses shows that 80% of the respondents objected to the plans. Yet the Mayor is ignoring this extremely high rate of objection – making a mockery of the consultation.
The proposed extension will hurt the most vulnerable and small businesses who are less likely to be able to buy the more expensive compliant cars. Additionally, the expansion is expected to cost £200 million, money which could instead be used on targeted and practical measures to improve air quality or tackling crime. Instead, the Mayor is spending the money on an expanded camera network which is unlikely to have an impact on air quality.
We call on the Mayor of London to abandon these plans and use the money to invest in greener infrastructure and for the phasing out of the most polluting buses.