Chipping Barnet MP, Theresa Villiers, has condemned the London Mayor’s decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to cover the whole capital. This will mean that from August next year, many drivers in Barnet will have to pay £12.50 a day to drive, with the charging scheme extended to cover the whole borough for the first time. It currently operates only in areas south of the North Circular.
Theresa has been campaigning to stop this expansion. She said air quality must be improved, but ULEZ was ‘the wrong scheme at the wrong time’, especially for the suburbs where there is less pollution than in areas closer to the centre of London.
“I have long said the Mayor should tackle air quality problems by cleaning up the TfL bus fleet, and by focusing on individual pollution hotspots, rather than with a punitive charge on motorists and businesses who are already struggling,” Theresa said. “The Government has given him money to reduce emissions in this way, but he wants more."
“Time and again my constituents have contacted me, worried about ULEZ, especially the elderly, van drivers and young families who rely on their vehicles and do not know how they will pay this charge. It is very harsh of the Mayor to impose this new tax on the suburbs at a time when so many people are worried about inflation and rising household bills."
“Small businesses reliant on van transport will be especially badly hit,” she explained. “For businesses transporting goods and equipment, public transport simply is not a viable option and buying a new vehicle could be very costly.
“This is the wrong scheme at the wrong time. It will disproportionately affect those who can ill afford to pay this sum. It will have a negative impact on economic activity and help drive up inflation."
“I am very concerned the Mayor simply hasn’t listened to the opposition to ULEZ expansion. I am dismayed that he is tone deaf to those whose lives will be adversely affected by this charge.”
Theresa added there was insufficient data to show ULEZ expansion would have a material effect on improving air quality in the areas it will now cover for the first time.
Previously she has said: “Air quality levels vary considerably across London, with the problems tending to be more serious in inner London. The Mayor’s own reports indicate that the ULEZ expansion into the suburbs will deliver only a minimal improvement in air quality.”
The Mayor's £12.50 daily charge will apply to anyone driving a vehicle in the zone which does not meet ULEZ criteria. The expansion of the scheme means that people living in areas in Barnet which were not previously part of the zone face the choice of buying a newer car or van or paying the daily charge.
Click here to sign Theresa's petition to stop ULEZ expansion.
