Text in italic are comments made by the writer relating to this story.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has been criticized for his handling of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges. Some businesses have said that the charges have put them on the brink of bankruptcy and that Khan has refused to listen to their concerns.
The ULEZ charges were introduced to reduce air pollution in London. Drivers of vehicles that do not meet certain emissions standards must pay a daily charge to drive in the zone. The charges have been increased twice since they were introduced, and they are now £12.50 for cars and £100 for lorries.
Some businesses have said that the charges are a major financial burden for them. They have also said that the charges have made it difficult for them to attract customers, as many people are now reluctant to drive into ULEZ zones. Delivery of goods and services will soon be “unaffordable” for many suppliers, impacting London’s prime retail zones.
Khan has defended the ULEZ charges, saying that they are necessary to improve air quality in London. He has also said that the charges are having a positive impact and that they are helping to reduce the number of polluting vehicles on the roads.
What will Mr Khan do with his £300,000+ black Range Rovers if he aims to “reduce the number of polluting vehicles on the roads”?
A recent interview on GB News outlines the issues facing the residents of London.
“There are so many companies going out of business.”
“The elderly are becoming prisoners at home”
“People are suicidal. They have been writing to the mayor’s office”
“It’s frightening that the Mayor is not listening to the public”
I had the pleasure of a 10-minute conversation with the Manager of a boutique retailer on Oxford Street. They asked to remain anonymous for obvious reasons.
“ULEZ is another shot toward destroying private businesses. It’s ok for Khan as we (taxpayers) pay his salary. If our business goes down, we will impact hundreds if not thousands of jobs in our supply chain. If Mr Khan loses his job, it will impact only him.”
“My staff are from all over London. Some of them are no longer able to afford to come to work. We have been helping staff as much as we can but we cannot continue to support them indefinitely. Our rent has increased, and our bills have skyrocketed. London no longer supports private ownership of businesses”.
The ULEZ charges remain controversial at best, and a danger to businesses and livelihoods of thousands of people at worst. Now that Heathrow Airport has become a ULEZ zone, there is no sign the Mr Khan is going to take public concerns seriously.