The Ultra Low Emission Zone is set to expand to all London boroughs on August 29 2023, but many drivers have been left disgruntled at the new plans, and have slammed the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s decision.
The public have been left divided on the ULEZ expansion, which will see motorists slapped with a £12.50 charge to drive in the newly expanded zones – if their car, motorcycle, van or other specialist vehicle doesn’t meet the emissions standards.
Brits who live in the newly proposed zones – such as Kingston-Upon-Thames, Hayes, Croydon, Twickenham and Enfield – and bordering counties, including the home counties, say the move is putting their businesses at risk and tearing families apart.
Other people have been left fuming at the proposed plan as they face £650 annual costs to visit sick their relatives or grandchildren, as tradesmen and business owners say they are looking at a whopping £3,000 bill to use their vehicles in the designated zones despite still financially recovering from the Coronavirus pandemic.
And while the Mayor has launched a new £110m scrappage scheme providing financial assistance – up to £2,000 for cars and £1,000 for motorcycles – to help eligible Londoners scrap their highest polluting vehicles to prepare for the expansion, many elderly people say that they simply cannot afford or ‘don’t want to spend £20,000 on a new car’ – branding the move a ‘nuisance’.