Six months into ULEZ expansions, have opinions changed?
The scheme has been affecting London residents and commuters living in bordering counties, such as Essex, who drive into London daily
Last updated 29th Feb 2024
Today marks six months since London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was rolled out.
The controversial scheme, introduced by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in an effort to provide cleaner air in the capital, continues to be contested by some, and celebrated by others.
Although cities around the country have introduced clean air zones, such as Birmingham, Bristol or Sheffield, the capital's expansion of its zone made it the world's largest pollution charging area.
People who drive in the zone in a vehicle which does not meet minimum emissions standards are required to pay a £12.50 daily fee or risk a £180 fine, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
Based on a survey conducted by Clear Path Strategies between January and February 2024, half of Londoners (53%) now support ULEZ, compared to 46% who said they supported the policy before it covered their area.
The survey however didn't include residents living in neighbouring counties, such as Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire or Essex, who have been affected by ULEZ.
Many residents living in these counties bordering London commute into the capital daily for work, with some living on the ULEZ limit itself.
Although some are in support of cleaner air and the introduction of the measure, many felt it was unfair.
Have opinions against the scheme changed?
Greatest Hits Radio spoke to Andy Jennings, a member of the Buckinghamshire Says No To The ULEZ Expansion Facebook group.
He said: "It's a big expense if you're doing it on a regular basis and I think it's affected too many people badly that weren't consulted and who live just outside the zone rather than the consultation being all about people inside the zone."
"Anybody outside was disregarded, it's changed people's lives and I don't think it's changed congestion, as the congestion charge didn't change it either."
"The only exceptions in help were given to inner London people who got that support that none of the people outside of the M25 got who travel in, because they didn't consult people outside of the M25."
Although Mr Jennings is opposed to the scheme, he rather insisted on the need for a better rolled out scheme that could benefit the majority.
He said: "Let's use the money to improve the rail network, to halve the price of tickets because people might then go 'actually I'm being rewarded for not driving into London rather than being penalised for driving'."
"We need to really work on our environment, this is the right thing to do but it just needs to be executed in a way that is fairer with more sense to it and I think they're going to have to put in a bit more work."
What do groups supporting the plans have to say?
Mums for Lungs, an organisation founded in London in 2017, has been campaigning for cleaner air for the benefit of children and adults' health.
Greatest Hits Radio spoke to founder Jemima Hartshorn.
She said: "We have air pollution that is far too toxic, it is causing children to grow up with stunted lungs and we know that this is caused and exacerbated by air pollution."
"The major contributor to air pollution in London is road transport, especially diesel vehicles, and therefore the ULEZ and expanding it to all of London was an important step in reducing air pollution by getting the most polluting cars off the roads."
"It is hundreds of parents who contact us, email us, speak to us, and tell us about their children being in hospital needing inhalers."
"People who've grown up with air pollution for life are more likely to have cardiac and lung issues."
Just like Andy Jennings was able to see the benefits of improving cleaner air while being opposed to ULEZ, Ms Hartshorn pointed out some of the negative aspects the scheme brought, as well as areas for improvement.
"We understand that there are people who lose out when there are this kind of relatively blunt policy, but on the upside, people living outside of London should be benefitting from cleaner air."
"The real problem in this situation has been that national government has not supported people outside of London to participate in scrappage schemes and that's what has been unfair here."
"We do need cleaner cars but we need people to be able to travel in a much more sustainable way that is also affordable, it's incredibly expensive in this country."
"It should not cost you an arm and a leg to visit family in Manchester."
What is the Mayor of London's response?
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, said: “London is now home to the world’s largest clean air zone of its kind, with 95 per cent of vehicles seen driving on London’s roads now compliant and not needing to pay a penny."
"The Mayor has been clear that the decision to expand the zone London-wide was not an easy one, but necessary to tackle toxic air pollution which stunts children’s lungs and increases the risk of developing asthma, dementia and heart disease."
“Sadiq is committed to supporting all Londoners and for those few still driving non-compliant vehicles, millions of pounds of scrappage scheme support is still available. The Mayor has added a further £50m to the scrappage scheme, bringing the total to £210m."
“The Mayor is transforming travel in outer London by adding an extra 4 million kilometres to the bus network with the Superloop, and continues to call on the Government to fund a targeted national scrappage scheme so everyone can benefit from cleaner air.”
What's the Government's view?
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “It is for the Mayor to justify his ULEZ expansion and explain whether it is fair to charge those with non-compliant vehicles £12.50 every time they drive in London.”
They added that The Government has provided TfL 'more than £6.6bn since 2020 to keep public transport moving', and that it 'prohibited the use of Government grant funding to cover the costs of the Mayor’s ULEZ expansion.'