Today the Mayor of London has extended London’s ULEZ zone to cover Hillingdon and Harrow. I deeply regret that it has come to this and that the Mayor has not listened to residents across outer London who are overwhelmingly against this cash grabbing scheme.
Over the last months, I have heard from many of my constituents who will be impacted from today onwards. It was made clear during the Uxbridge by-election that this policy is deeply unpopular and the Mayor would have heard that from his candidate in that by-election, along with his own party leader who harboured concerns. By his own admission, this policy will not improve air quality in the capital, yet it will stop the most vulnerable from accessing vital services and unduly impact their daily lives.
We know that this is only the start of the Mayor’s plans to tax drivers in London. In Parliament, I raised this issue with Ministers who have heard from TfL that they have been instructed to implement additional road charging schemes within the coming years. While I will continue to work in Westminster to overturn this decision, the people of London will have their chance to express their discontent in next year’s Mayoral election, and at that election I would urge my constituents to support Cllr Susan Hall who has promised to scrap the expansion on day one.
