Anti-ULEZ protesters are demanding an end to Sadiq Khan‘s reign as the London mayor moves to expand the ultra low emissions zone across the capital.
Dozens of demonstrators holding placards criticising the mayor gathered in Marble Arch today, chanting and causing commotion in the streets in opposition to Mr Khan’s flagship green policy.
The mayor announced the ULEZ expansion last year in an effort to clean up London’s air and improve public health, but it has proven controversial among drivers who will soon be out of pocket.
The zone currently covers an area bounded by the North Circular and South Circular roads, but under the expansion which comes into effect on 29 August non-compliant vehicles across all 33 London boroughs could face a daily charge.
The charge of £12.50 potentially adding up to £4,550 per year, and not paying the ULEZ charge can land motorists with a penalty of up to £180 per offence.
Dozens of demonstrators holding placards criticising the mayor gathered in London’s Marble Arch neighbourhood today, chanting and causing commotion in the streets in opposition to Mr Khan’s flagship green policy
Holding signs that read ‘stop the Khanage’, ‘NO ULEZ’, ‘stop the toxic air lie’, ‘no pay per mile’ and more , demonstrators flooded the streets this afternoon
Anti-ULEZ protesters are demanding an end to Sadiq Khan’s reign as the London mayor moves to expand the ultra low emissions zone across the capital
A large crowd of protesters today have called on Mayor Khan to ‘listen to the people’ and put an end to the ULEZ expansion
A large crowd of protesters today have called on Mayor Khan to ‘listen to the people’ and put an end to the ULEZ expansion.
Holding signs that read ‘stop the Khanage’, ‘NO ULEZ’, ‘stop the toxic air lie’, ‘no pay per mile’ and more , demonstrators flooded the Marble Arch neighbourhood this afternoon.
The London Mayor’s policy to tackle toxic air is facing a High Court challenge from five Tory councils in the coming weeks.
They have claimed Mr Khan acted unlawfully in the way he proposed to widen the zone, and want to stop its expansion from going ahead.
Today’s demonstration is the final large protest before the judicial review of the policy on July 4.
Among those in attendance was Councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman who took to Twitter saying the ‘expansion will do even more damage to businesses and Londoners’.
Today’s rally is the final large protest before the judicial review of the policy on July 4
People protest against Ulez expansion at Marble Arch, London today, holding signs that allege the policy is a ‘lie’, ‘tax’ and ‘con’
Demonstrators gather in Marble Arch today with signs that read ‘beep for freedom’ and ‘sack Khan’ as they protest the ULEZ expansion
From the end of August, the daily ULEZ charge, which runs from midnight to midnight each day, will include areas as far out as Heathrow Airport, Chingford and Sutton in an attempt to improve air quality across the city. Protesters are pictured in Marble Arch today
Kingsley Hamilton, 44, of Beddington, near Croydon, who had previously been arrested for allegedly stealing the ULEZ cameras, also turned up today, live video from the demonstration showed.
Addressing the crowd via megaphone, Mr Hamilton – who denies taking the cameras – said that people are stealing the cameras ‘because they are desperate’.
Using an example about cancer patients needing treatment, he said: ‘I want to be able to go to the Royal Marsden hospital to get my treatment, but I can’t because I have to pay £12.50.
‘I’m on my pension or I haven’t got much money left. The person that takes me can’t afford to take me anymore because this is it, it’s not just the people directly effected, it’s secondary people being effected as well.’
Mr Hamilton added: ‘Sadiq Khan said no to an exemption for cancer patients,’ alleging the mayor is ‘heartless’ and ‘cruel’.
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ULEZ currently covers an area bounded by the North Circular and South Circular roads, but under the expansion which comes into effect on 29 August non-compliant vehicles across all 33 London boroughs could face a daily charge. Protesters are pictured today
The charge of £12.50 potentially adding up to £4,550 per year, and not paying the ULEZ charge can land motorists with a penalty of up to £180 per offence. Anti-ULEZ protesters are pictured during a rally in Marble Arch today
Demonstrators hold placards and chant slogans during a rally to protest against the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone in Marble Arch today
Demonstrators hold signs criticising Mayor Khan’s policy, including one that reads ‘free our streets’ and another that says: ‘Beware! You’re on Khandid camera at all times’
Demonstrators are pictured protesting against Ulez expansion at Marble Arch, London today
From the end of August, the daily ULEZ charge, which runs from midnight to midnight each day, will include areas as far out as Heathrow Airport, Chingford and Sutton in an attempt to improve air quality across the city.
TfL hopes that, by reducing the number of cars in London that do not meet emissions standards, air pollution will continue to be reduced in the UK capital.
But expanding the ULEZ zone might only prevent at maximum one case of lung cancer every year, according to a TfL-commissioned review.
A 197-page document, used to justify Mr Khan’s controversial decision to widen the scheme, which began in 2019, acknowledged the impacts on cancer rates specifically would be ‘nominal’.
Londoners on low income or disability benefits have been encouraged to take up the Mayor’s new scrappage scheme, which awards grants to scrap or retrofit vehicles that do not meet the ULEZ emissions standards.
They may also apply for discounts or grants to help with more sustainable forms of transport, such as e-bikes or car club credit.
Meanwhile, research has found that nine out of ten cars seen driving in outer London already meet the ULEZ emissions standards.
A demonstrator holds a placard reading a climatosceptic message during a rally in Marble Arch to protest against the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone
Demonstrators hold placards and chant slogans during a rally to protest against the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone today
Demonstrators hold placards against London Mayor Sadiq Khan and chant slogans during a rally to protest against the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone
Protesters line the streets of Marble Arch today with signs that say: ‘NO 2 ULEZ’
An activist protesting the ULEZ expansion holds a sign declaring ‘there is no climate crisis’
But the ULEZ expansion across all London boroughs later this year could force more than two in five drivers in the capital to give up their current car, according to a recent study commissioned by personal finance company Credit Karma.
However, 40 per cent of car-owners living in London claimed that they will have to change their existing vehicle sooner than they planned because of the controversial expansion.
Nearly one in five Londoners – 18 per cent of the 4,000 surveyed – told researchers they are planning on using some kind of credit to buy a car in the next year.
The issue of having to replace their cars is disproportionately affecting millennials, with half (50 per cent) saying they will be unable to afford to keep their car.
