Ultra Low Emission Zone and mini-hollands are vital for our future

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is set to go live on 8 April in the central London area, with the zone extending out to greater London – bordered by the North and South Circular roads - in 2021.

This has to be a welcome development for everyone living in London, especially the children at present suffering the effects of the pollution being generated by motor vehicles.

Under the ULEZ, anyone driving a polluting vehicle will have to pay a £12.50 a day, when entering the zone. The cost will be £100 for lorries. Failure to pay will result in fines of £160 and £1000 respectively.

A rather strange exemption to the charge are the 21,000 black cabs, which will not have to pay the charge, despite generating 16% of all transport nitrogen oxide in London.

In terms of those effected, it will be broadly be pre-2006 petrol cars and pre-2015 diesels.

This is a major move to improve the air quality for all Londoners. There have been the usual howls of protest from the car lobby and those who think their right to drive overrides the everyone else’s right to life.

Some of the opposition arguments are similar to those previously used to oppose the original congestion charge and some of the local parking permit schemes around London. They include its just a revenue raising exercise, the poor and more vulnerable will be unduly penalised and the right of people to drive where and whenever they want.

I am sure there will be measures brought into ensure more vulnerable groups will not be unduly penalised but the time when people can drive around, effectively poisoning the air are now limited.

A recent tour around Waltham Forest council’s (WF) excellent mini-hollands scheme shows what can be done if other forms of transport are given priority.

There are safe cycle lanes running right across the borough. Roads and pavements have been reset to give cycles and buses priority. Pedestrians too are better off, with less pollution around to breath.

The boost to the cycling culture is increased by having secure places to park bikes around stations and residential streets.

WF is certainly one borough that does seem to be on the way to achieving the Mayor’s aim of 80% of travel being by foot, cycle or public transport by 2041. Other boroughs, including Redbridge, should take note and start implementing similarly imaginative schemes.

In areas of WF, you can feel a new community spirit being fostered to the benefit of everyone. A spirit where people care more about the environment where they live and those they share that space with. The community gardens springing up across the borough are further testimony to this vision.

We are hoping to do similar things in Wanstead and beyond, championed in the Environmental Charter. These things can be done with some visionary political leadership and the will among people to make them happen. The annual deaths due to pollution in London and beyond should be spur enough for any doubters, that measures such as the ULEZ and mini-hollands are vital for the well-being of all in the future.

published - 24/1/2018 - Wanstead & Woodford Guardian
                    - 26/1/2019 - online