We are fast approaching 29th August when Labour’s ULEZ expansion across Greater London will take effect. For some local residents in Reigate & Banstead, the expansion will have a big impact on their day to day lives, especially for those living in Banstead, Chipstead and Woodmansterne where the new border is on the door step. What once were simple, cheap journeys that required little thought will now become difficult for those who can’t afford to pay the charge or upgrade their vehicle. A wide range of people will be affected including patients travelling to the Royal Marsden hospital for cancer treatment, parents trying to get children to school, charities trying to provide support to those most in need and tradespeople trying to earn a living.
The Mayor of London states that ULEZ expansion is needed to improve air quality and ultimately health outcomes. However the Jacobs report dated 17th May 2022, an impact assessment provided as part of the public consultation, indicates differently. The predicted air quality improvement for Greater London is small at best – a 1.3% reduction in nitrogen dioxide exposure and a tiny 0.1% reduction for particulate matter - certainly not sufficient to warrant the devastating impact of ULEZ expansion on vulnerable and low-income groups in our communities. Disabled people, pregnant women, parents with young children, tradespeople, care workers and those receiving care are all listed in the report as being detrimentally impacted by the expansion.
Of particular relevance for us here in Reigate & Banstead is that our public transport network is simply not at the same level as that in London. We do not have an underground service and our bus services are not regular or extensive enough to provide a reasonable alternative. Travel by car is often the only viable option. Restricting car travel for our most vulnerable and low-income residents will lead to greater inequality in our communities.
Another frustration for local residents is that a politician we didn’t elect has the power to inflict something upon us and at one of the worst possible times. No mitigations have been offered for Surrey residents, in spite of Surrey County Council pressing the Mayor repeatedly on this. The existing scrappage scheme, although recently expanded to cover more Londoners, still doesn’t include Surrey residents. It is simply not fair to expect local authorities who are actively opposed to ULEZ expansion, and already grappling with challenging finances, to foot the bill for Labour’s faux-green scheme.
ULEZ expansion doesn’t deliver what it promises. It doesn’t meaningfully improve air quality. It’s just another tax on local residents. A tax that will isolate and restrict movement of some of the most vulnerable people in our society. It will do untold damage to our small businesses and local economy. And for all these reasons, I oppose it and support Susan Hall in her campaign to be Mayor of London so that she can deliver on her promise to stop the ULEZ expansion in May 2024.
