Louie French, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup has expressed his outrage at Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London’s decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone to all outer London boroughs including Bexley which will impact over 28,000 vehicles in Bexley alone.
For Old Bexley, Sidcup and Welling residents, this means paying £12.50 per day and £4,500 per year for driving within the constituency or anywhere in Greater London if you drive an older car with a penalty charge of £180 per time.
Louie is concerned over the devastating and regressive impact on communites in Bexley including local families, businesses and key workers. This stealth tax will hit those on lower incomes and cannot afford to pay the charge or for a new vehicle the hardest.
Louie has raised concern over the impact on key workers and the emergency services, given that over 50% of blue light workers live outside of London meaning many of our police officers and medical professionals in Bexley travel from Kent to serve our community.
Following the announcement, Louie visited Bexley Village to discuss the impact of the expansion with local businesses who are concerned over the impact on their businesses, particularly due to the likely reduction in customers travelling to our local shops both from within Bexley and in neighbouring areas in Kent like Dartford, alongside the problems caused with deliveries and suppliers.
Commenting, Louie said:
“I am outraged that Sadiq Khan has announced he is pursuing his disgraceful ULEZ expansion to cover all of Greater London and Bexley from August next year. This is set to impact over 28,000 vehicles in Bexley alone which means that those drivers will face bills of £12.50 a day and up to £4,500 a year just to drive.
The overwhelming level of objection to the plans including 80% workers in outer London, 80% of business owners and 89% of black cab drivers reflects how the expansion to places like Bexley ignores the character and transport connectivity in the area and the significant impact this will have on families, businesses and key workers.
To spend double on cameras to fine people versus the scrappage scheme to help people, highlights again how this policy is about raising money on the backs of hard working Londoners rather than clean air.”
