Fears expansion of ULEZ could cause ‘massive hardship to the poorest’

The High Court has ruled that London Mayor Sadiq Khan has the legal power to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to Greater London on August 29 2023.

However, campaigners opposed to the ULEZ expansion say that they will continue to protest against the ruling.

Motoring journalist Shahzad Sheikh, known as BrownCarGuy explained how the expasion of the ULEZ could have a negative impact on residents already affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

He said: “While the judge’s verdict on the Judicial Review is both a blow and hard to comprehend, the case against the ULEZ expansion remains valid.”

“It is both unjustifiable in terms of perceived improvements in air quality and will cause massive hardship to the poorest in Outer London’s communities who will once again be hit the hardest during a cost-of-living crisis.”

ULEZ was first introduced to Central London in 2019 and was later expanded to cover the area between the North and South Circular roads in 2021.

The zone aims to improve air quality levels in the area by charging drivers of older vehicles £12.50 per day to enter, else face fines of up to £180.

Vehicles that are non-ULEZ compliant include petrol-powered cars and vans typically produced before 2005 and most diesel models made before September 2015. 

Shahzad stated that, with more motorists about to upgrade to a more environmentally friendly car ahead of the rollout on August 29 2023, values of used cars in London will drop.

He explained: “Even those waiting to change or upgrade their cars will find that values of their non-ULEZ compliant cars has plunged dramatically, while a ‘London Premium’ has further inflated already high prices for compliant used cars.

“Nonetheless, Labour’s defeat in Uxbridge has given politicians a wake-up call and it’s important for Londoners to continue to make themselves heard. The judge may have given his verdict, but now it’s time for motorists to deliver theirs.”

According to the 2021 Office for National Statistics Census, whilst 24 percent of those in the current ULEZ area drive to work, nearly half of residents in the expansion zone commute in their own vehicle.

In addition, the Census noted that over two thirds of households within the expanded area owned at least one vehicle, with over a quarter owning two or more.

A report from the AA estimated that the expansion of ULEZ could impact 300,000 drivers, with some not being able to afford a cleaner replacement for their current vehicle.