Whilst the Mayor’s consultation to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone to Carshalton and Wallington has closed, I’ve continued to drum up support for my petition calling on him to rethink the plans.
As the Mayor and TfL continue to make their minds up, it’s important that we ensure our opposition doesn’t let up. That’s why it’s been heartening to see signatures both on my online petition and via the physical petition cards continue to tick up.
What is clear is the depth of opposition to the ULEZ expansion. This isn’t opposition to cleaning up our air, but rather opposition to a policy that hits the least well off the hardest. I have had many people get in touch to voice their concerns over expansion and what it will mean for their already-squeezed wallets, including parents, older constituents, charities, and those who are self-employed.
A fraction of the money that the Mayor is planning to splurge on the enforcement cameras could be used to make meaningful changes, from a proper scrappage scheme, to electric buses and green taxis. Let’s encourage people to live a greener, cleaner life rather than penalising them for being unable to afford one.
However, compounding all of this are the worrying reports in last weekend’s papers showing that whilst 66% of Londoners oppose ULEZ expansion, evidence seems to suggest that some opposition votes may have been improperly excluded from the final consultation. This just underlines the battle that we're currently fighting.
So, will you stand up to the Mayor’s dodgy money grab and sign my petition? You can do so by clicking here.