Sadiq Khan is facing growing fury over his ‘out of touch’ assault on motorists today with warnings he will turn London into a haven for rich people who work from home.
Maps have laid bare the extent of the mayor’s overhaul of the road network in the capital, with far more 20mph zones planned alongside the massive expansion of the ULEZ.
But there are signs of mounting unrest among Labour MPs at shifting the boundary of the low emission zone to outer London – dragging millions more into its orbit in a bid to cut air pollution.
Meanwhile, Tories have railed at ‘ideological’ measures, questioning the concept of 15-minute neighbourhoods, and insisting residents are becoming ‘frustrated’ at constant roadworks. MPs argue that the mayor’s proposals are geared towards ‘people who either work from home and don’t have to go anywhere, or if they do have to go anywhere can afford an Uber or a cab’.
Some have claimed that the moves will merely displace polluting traffic and create more pinch-points on the edges of restrictions, while those who have to travel will pay the price. After the congestion charge was introduced there was evidence that nitrogen dioxide levels actually increased due to increase bus and taxi use – although more electric vehicles have been introduced since then.