ULEZ

Informative article in today's Guardian here

"Many motorists are unaware of how strict – and expensive – the new rules are for the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ), which starts on 8 April this year. Diesel cars manufactured before 2015 are likely to fall foul of the rules, as well as most pre-2006 petrol cars. They will be charged £12.50 to come into central London at any time, on top of the £11.50 congestion charge, which operates from Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm.

Then from October 2021 the zone will be hugely expanded, with mums and dads on the school run potentially affected, as 3.6 million London residents are brought into the scheme. Any cars failing to meet the standards by then will have to pay £12.50 a day if they are driven anywhere in an area bounded by the city’s north and south circular roads."

What should Waltham Forest Streets for All position be on the proposed charges?

Of course we all want cleaner air, but is this charge the fairest way to secure that? Motorists do not design vehicles, they just use them. Remember this will not just be private motorists, but anyone who uses a vehicle for their work. All businesses will have to increase their prices to cover the extra costs of transporting labour and materials across the capital.

If as a society we want cleaner air, should there not be huge subsidies for electric vehicles? and /or some kind of scrappage scheme?

To add to the financial penalties here in Waltham Forest, Cllr Clyde Loakes is asking that the zone be extended north of the North Circular boundary being implemented by Sadiq Khan to include the whole of our borough. This will mean that practically everyone who owns a vehicle will be charged as soon as they use their car to go anywhere at all.

If you are completely opposed to the ULEZ charges you can sign the petition here