London has been left with no choice – the reason behind the controversial ULEZ expansion

London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is just a few days away from being expanded, in line with plans made by Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Up until now the scheme has been limited only to areas within the boundaries of the North and South Circular Roads but from August 29 all London boroughs will be included.

It comes after the mayor won a High Court challenge by several Greater London councils who opposed the plans.

The outer London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, and Hillingdon, along with Surrey County Council, made the challenge amid concerns residents would not be able to afford the £12.50 daily charge.

With the plans continuing to cause controversy, just why is London expanding ULEZ to the rest of the capital?

Why is ULEZ being expanded?

Quite simply, the scheme is being expanded in a bid to improve London’s air quality.

According to the Mayor’s website, while the scheme has led to improvements in the capital’s air quality in the past six years, toxic air is still leading to thousands of premature deaths per year caused by air pollution as well as causing health issues in children such as stunted lungs.

The site goes on to say that the greatest number of deaths attributible to air pollution are coming from the outer London boroughs – which have also seen a slower improvement in air quality than in those boroughs where ULEZ already operates.

‘Already 9 in 10 cars and 8 in 10 vans seen driving in outer London on an average day meet the ULEZ standards and nearly half of London households do not own a car but are disproportionately feeling the damaging consequences that polluting vehicles cause,’ the site adds.

‘Road transport accounts for approximately 28 per cent of carbon emissions in London. Experience from the ULEZ in central and inner London shows that many Londoners replaced some or all of their car and van journeys in the ULEZ with walking, cycling or public transport.’

Mayor Sadiq Khan recently opened up on the issue, saying that an expansion of ULEZ will lead to less workers taking sick days due to the effects of air pollution.

In an interview with Fix Radio, Mr Khan said: ‘I understand, it’s particularly difficult now, tradespeople are taking time for work because of asthma and other health related respiratory conditions.

‘It’s in tradespeople’s interests to be having vehicles that are compliant because it means they take off less time from work by being unwell because of air pollution.’

However, Fix Radio has found the charge would mean workers face losing 21 days worth of pay due to high costs – with some 23% of tradespeople saying it was too expensive to drive their van into London, and a further 23% saying the expansion has had a detrimental impact on their business.

Meanwhile Labour leader Keir Starmer has also weighed in on the debate.

Despite citing ULEZ as a factor in Labour’s recent by-election loss in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election, Mr Starmer has cautiously backed Mr Khan’s decision.

‘I accept that the Mayor has no choice but to go ahead because of the legal obligation on him,’ he said in an LBC interview.

What time does ULEZ start?

ULEZ is in force 24 hours a day – meaning the charges apply regardless of what time you take to the road.

Transport for London explains that the charging days run from midnight to midnight – meaning, by way of an example, that if you drive within the zone between the hours of 11.30pm and 1am you could be charged for two days.

However charges only apply if you drive your vehicle within the zone – there is no charge for cars parked within the ULEZ zone.

So, if you live within the area where the charge applies you don’t have to pay anything for keeping your car parked on your drive or outside your home – you’ll only incur charges once you start driving it, if your vehicle is not compliant.

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