Sadiq Khan urged to ‘return to drafting board’ over ‘reckless’ ULEZ growth

May 20, 2023 at 12:04 PM

Sadiq Khan has been urged to “go back to the drawing board” and “rethink” his “reckless” growth of London’s ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ).

Ian Edwards, the Conservative chief of Hillingdon Council, insisted the transfer may have a crippling affect on small companies and self-employed individuals throughout the capital.

The ULEZ, which sees drivers pay a £12.50 every day price for probably the most polluting autos, already covers the world contained in the north and south round roads.

But Mr Khan has made the controversial choice to increase the zone to cowl the whole thing of outer London from August 29 in a bid to spice up air high quality.

Mr Edwards, the chief of one among 5 Tory councils taking authorized motion in a bid to thwart the growth, warned it’ll “slam small businesses and the self-employed with another cost they simply cannot afford”.

Writing for the Express, Mr Edwards mentioned: “We want to make him go back to the drawing board and rethink this reckless policy.”

Edward Green, a private coach and sports activities therapeutic massage therapist based mostly in Upminster, which is simply contained in the border of the proposed extension, mentioned he may very well be compelled to shut down his enterprise if it goes forward.

He mentioned: “It will mean that I lose some of my customers. It will mean I’m able to compete for less business.

“It may imply the distinction between me having the ability to keep on the enterprise and never, it is that important an affect.”

Mr Green – who has been campaigning against the ULEZ expansion – drives to some customers, while others travel to him. He uses his vehicle to transport his massage bed and weight equipment.

He said: “This week it is meant I wasn’t capable of do two therapeutic massage jobs which had been simply contained in the A406. But it’ll considerably have an effect on me past that.

“It’s not a huge revenue in business so buying a new car when I’ve got a perfectly serviceable vehicle already is a massive issue.

“I’m based mostly in Upminster and a number of my clients are from Essex so its including £12.50 to the worth of getting a therapeutic massage once they’re actually driving a mile over the border at most.

“If they’ve got a choice between coming to me or a therapist in Brentwood or in Thurrock, then I have to charge £12.50 less than the equivalent person.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London mentioned: “The Mayor has been clear that the decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide was not an easy one, but necessary to tackle toxic air pollution and the climate crisis.

“Around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to toxic air pollution, children are growing up with stunted lungs and thousands of people in our city are developing life-changing illnesses, such as cancer, lung disease, dementia and asthma. Expanding the ULEZ London-wide will enable five million more Londoners to breathe cleaner air.

“We know that many businesses, particularly small businesses and sole traders, are struggling as a result of the cost of living crisis.

“This is why the Mayor has launched a £110 million scrappage scheme for small-businesses and sole traders, as well as charities, Londoners on lower incomes and disabled Londoners.

“The Mayor continues to call on Government to further support the switch to cleaner vehicles through funding a targeted national scrappage scheme or providing additional funding to London as it has done for other cities across the country.”