Anti-ULEZ protesters claim London air is ‘not toxic at all’ | British News

Hundreds of protesters flocked to London Bridge to protest plans to expand the Ultra Low Emissions Zones (Ulez).

Labor Mayor Sadiq Khan intends to extend the capital’s ultra-low emissions zone to all of outer London.

Last month a Supreme Court judge ruled that five Conservative-led councils could challenge the plan.

From 29 August, if the Ulez extension is implemented, drivers in the London area will have to pay a fee of £12.50 per day if their vehicles do not meet the required emissions standards.

Hundreds spoke out as they halted traffic across the inner city bridge to thwart plans to extend the Ulez line across London.

John Hemming-Clark, a Scout leader for 12 years, said it would cost him £25 to now take a group of children camping in his car at the weekend.

The 63-year-old said: “I’m a scout leader and I have a 10-year-old car. It’s going to cost me £25 a week to take the kids to the camps.”

“I think it’s so unfair because it wasn’t mentioned in Sadiq Khan’s manifesto, there is real hardship in Bromley and people need their cars to see relatives or go to the hospital.”

“Central London is one thing, but Khan taking ulez unhindered to the outskirts of London is another.” There are local protests at the moment, but when it does and people realize it’s having an impact on the wider population, God knows what’s going to happen.”

Bells and whistles blared as protesters marched back and forth across the bridge and the group chanted “Get Khan out.”

Following the release of his new book, Breathe: Tackling The Climate Emergency, on Friday, Mr Khan said: “My mum has asthma, she’s 82 (and lives nearby), I have two children, 23 and 21, but I have also nephews and nieces, neighbors and friends.

“Members of my family could be directly linked to poor air quality and develop dementia, heart disease or cancer.” So of course there’s a self-interest in how it affects me, my family and friends.”

Despite Mr Khan’s argument that ulez was introduced to improve air quality, protesters refuted those claims.

Jane Green said: “We want to prevent the poorest of people from incurring additional livelihood costs.”

“Those who have older cars cannot afford the fee or buy a new car.”

“If you check the air quality website regularly, you will see that it is a lie that the air in London is not toxic at all.”

“Look, it’s not poisonous.”

Trevor Adams said it’s a step closer to paying per mile, where drivers would have to pay per mile of their journey across the capital.

He said: “If you look at the readings, the worst areas are in the London Underground and not on the streets.”

“This is the first time I’ve felt strong enough to take to the streets.”

Earlier this month, former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers urged MPs to back her legislative amendment that would allow ministers to intervene in decisions on transport and air quality.

Ms Villiers, who represents Chipping Barnet outside London, told the House of Commons: “In my 18 years as MP … almost nothing has provoked such fierce opposition as the Mayor of London’s plan to extend the ultra-low emissions zone.”

“It’s on almost every doorstep and at almost every meeting.” People stop me in the street to tell me how much this means to them, and over 50,000 have signed the Conservatives’ petition.

“That’s why I’m bringing forward this bill to give the government the power to override Mayor Khan and stop Ulez’s expansion.”

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