New data has revealed that two-thirds of London residents are opposed to the planned expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)…
Opposition to London ULEZ Plans
Leaked Transport for London (TfL) documents, seen by The Telegraph, suggest that two-thirds of London locals are opposed to a planned expansion of the ULEZ. More precisely, 66% of Londoners surveyed as a part of a consultation expressed opposition to the planned expansion of the ULEZ to cover the entirety of the Greater London area.
A separate consultation, also conducted by TfL, produced similar results. Some 60% of respondents opposed the plans altogether and 7.6% wanted the plan to be postponed. Only 31.8% of respondents said that they were happy for the ULEZ expansion to go ahead as planned in August 2023. The remaining respondents said they were unsure of their preference.
Originally, the ULEZ only covered central London in the form of the Congestion Charge Zone. It gradually grew to cover the entirety of the North Circular and South Circular roads. Should the next expansion go ahead, the AA believes a third of drivers in London will be affected.
Financial Worries
Critics of the ULEZ, and similar schemes, argue that it discriminates against poorer drivers; driving them off of the road network in some instances. Naturally, the Mayor of London has been keen to emphasise that Londoners will receive some financial assistance when it comes to replacing their polluting vehicles.
The planned expansion of the ULEZ would be accompanied by a scrappage scheme; helping people ditch older vehicles in return for the likes of car clubs and public transport. Therefore, the scheme wouldn’t simply allow for the purchase of new cars but might also go some way in promoting cycling, walking and public transport.
In particular, Sadiq Khan has stressed that low-income households, charities and disabled people will need greater support as a result of further ULEZ expansion.
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