ULEZ residents mainly in support of new measures

By Kiro Evans, Local Democracy Reporter.

Residents caught just inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) boundary say they do not care about the new charges.

Some families in Greenwich find themselves facing a £12.50 charge after last month’s expansion to the zone, despite the fact they live just metres inside the boundary.

But they say they’re not bothered by their location – and either don’t drive or own a car that is exempt.

Naydon, 25, who lives in the half of Woolwich caught just within ULEZ’s expansion, revealed the move actually forced him to change car as his older one did not meet emissions standards.

But he said it did not bother him, adding: “The whole thing meant I had to get a different car. But to be honest I don’t mind as I drive into the ULEZ zone every day anyway, so it makes sense as the right thing to do.”

Local resident Jonathan, who also lives on the wrong side of the ULEZ line, said he was fully supportive of the boundary changes and was unaffected as he doesn’t drive, but added he feared how this would change driver behaviour.

He said: “I’m worried that the pollution will increase in this area if cars skirt around the ULEZ line and deliberately avoid it.

That could have a bad affect on local schools, like how we saw with Ella Kissi-Debrah.”

Andrew, who was passing Woolwich Dockyard station, said: “I don’t drive, never have done. If you saw my driving you would know why.”

One woman said that she was unaffected for now but “my car was made in 2003, so with more changes to the standards I might have to get a new one soon”.

The ULEZ changes came into place on October 25 and was introduced to try to fight London’s pollution levels.

But some people have criticised the scheme as an attack on the poor who either have to fork out for a new vehicle or pay a daily charge to access most of London.

Four out of five motors currently meet the emission standards, but there are still thousands of older polluting cars on the road.

Drivers will fall below standards based on how much nitrogen oxide their vehicles emit.

Ahead of the changes to ULEZ, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “London’s toxic air is a health crisis causing long-lasting harm to our children and contributing to thousands of premature deaths.

“The Ultra Low Emission Zone has already cut nitrogen dioxide pollution by nearly half in central London and the expansion of the zone on October 25 means many more Londoners across the city will enjoy the benefits of cleaner, healthier air.

“We need bold action to clean up London’s air, and while it’s encouraging that four out of five vehicles now meet the current standards and won’t have to pay the ULEZ charge, I advise all drivers to use the Transport for London (TfL) checker to make sure your vehicle is ULEZ compliant.

“Our scrappage scheme will continue supporting motorists to ditch their polluting cars and make the switch to greener forms of transport as we drive towards a green recovery.”