Cleaning up London’s toxic air

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672 Londoners have responded | 25/10/2021 - 19/07/2023

Street sign of the Ultra Low Emission Zone

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In 2017, 69% of you told us you are likely to reduce your own energy consumption and 81% of you told us that air pollution is a big problem in London. Since then, the London Environment Strategy was published and the Mayor has committed to make London a zero carbon city

The Environment Team at City Hall have been working on a plan to help London meet these ambitious targets: from making all new buildings zero carbon to implementing the Ultra Low Emission Zone. There’s a lot more to be done and we can’t do this alone.

We’re keen to know if you have tried to reduce your energy consumption and greenhouse emissions in the past few years?  What did you do that worked and what more would you like to do if you could?

Have your say in our discussion below.

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Comments (301)

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biggest problem is charcoal grill takeaway restaurants in Stepney tower hamlets and all the collections and deliveries to and from the restaurants 

 

 the charcoal grills and chip fat has made the buildings black so why are they allowed...

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biggest problem is charcoal grill takeaway restaurants in Stepney tower hamlets and all the collections and deliveries to and from the restaurants 

 

 the charcoal grills and chip fat has made the buildings black so why are they allowed to open until  2 in the morning disturbing  people. the air quality is poor because of the charcoal grill takeaways for sure  

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Avatar for - Monarch butterfly

Surprisingly, the proposed extension to the ultra low emission zone does nothing to address climate change.  It is nothing to do with reducing CO2 emissions.  It is purely to attempt to reduce the undesirable oxides of nitrogen (NO)x which...

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Surprisingly, the proposed extension to the ultra low emission zone does nothing to address climate change.  It is nothing to do with reducing CO2 emissions.  It is purely to attempt to reduce the undesirable oxides of nitrogen (NO)x which are formed when you burn fuel, in the presence of air which is 80% nitrogen.  I suppose more efficient engines produce less (NO)x.  Even so the extended ULEZ will only reduce the (NO)x by stopping vehicles whose owners can't afford the charge; otherwise there will be no change to (NO)x from extending the zone.  It is only by encouraging the use of hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles that an elimination of both oxides of nitrogen and CO2 will occur.   

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Avatar for - Monarch butterfly

Ultra Low Emissions Zone

The proposal to extend the ultra low emissions zone is wholly misguided for the following reasons:

There is another much more effective way to reduce emissions of CO2.

As a way to introduce this I would draw your...

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Ultra Low Emissions Zone

The proposal to extend the ultra low emissions zone is wholly misguided for the following reasons:

There is another much more effective way to reduce emissions of CO2.

As a way to introduce this I would draw your attention to the article “World-first hydrogen double decker buses to help tackle London’s toxic air” 10th May 2019.  At the time 20 buses had been ordered to work on three routes, 245, 7 and N7.  As you know, the combustion of hydrogen results in an exhaust consisting of water only, no CO2 so no contributions to climate change.

What plans exist to expand the number of hydrogen bus routes in London?  

As far as cars and vans are concerned, several companies including Ancaster-Hyundai in Croydon where I live are one of an increasing number of companies offering hydrogen powered cars.  The problem at the moment is the small, though increasing, number of hydrogen fill points for cars and vans.  Shell operate at least two hydrogen fill points one at Gatwick and one on Cobham Services on the M25 Jn 9/10. 

What plans exist to provide car and small van hydrogen fill points in and around London?

Where is all the hydrogen going to come from?  Preferably it will be from the electrical hydrolysis of sea water using power from wind turbines and solar panels.  For example Denmark is currently building an off shore wind farm to produce 1 million tonnes of hydrogen annually. 

What plans exist for producing hydrogen for London to distribute to the end points described above?

Surely in view of the above the ULEZ expansion is at best a distraction and at worst a complete waste of resources given the opportunities to clean up London’s air and reduce climate change described above.

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Avatar for - Tiger

ULEZ is not on and unfair for the outer London boroughs. One of the benefits is that where I live in Havering there will be a stop put to the cars that have been illegally modified where most of them don't qualify for ULEZ. Perhaps the...

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ULEZ is not on and unfair for the outer London boroughs. One of the benefits is that where I live in Havering there will be a stop put to the cars that have been illegally modified where most of them don't qualify for ULEZ. Perhaps the priority should be for police to stop cars that are illegally modified making excessive car noise. That is the real danger on the road, which is very bad for public health.

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Avatar for - Leatherback sea turtle

In Nov 2014 City of London Corporation published "Riverside Walk Enhancement Strategy".
Eight years ago.
Page 55 item 8.3.2.3 White Lion Hill 'Proposal' says:
"In the short/medium term opportunities should be explored to develop a...

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In Nov 2014 City of London Corporation published "Riverside Walk Enhancement Strategy".
Eight years ago.
Page 55 item 8.3.2.3 White Lion Hill 'Proposal' says:
"In the short/medium term opportunities should be explored to develop a temporary scheme that will strengthen the pedestrian route linking Queen Victoria Street to the Riverside Walk."
Eight years ago...
By changing the pedestrian super-unfriendly junction of Puddle Dock and Upper Thames Street - allowing motor traffic approaching the river on Puddle Dock to turn right, as in a 'normal' T-junction - White Lion Hill could be immediately closed to motor traffic, and the Riverside Walk greatly improved.
Should be possible in about 8 weeks for a trial with temporary traffic lights.
Eight weeks - not eight years...
London is being seriously harmed by a dismal standard of 'Planning'.
It should not be accepted.

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Avatar for - American pika

To help the climate stop the constant demolition of buildings which could be refurbished and reused. The numbers of construction lorries on the roads is ridiculous and they are dangerous to others. Stop the cutting down of mature trees for...

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To help the climate stop the constant demolition of buildings which could be refurbished and reused. The numbers of construction lorries on the roads is ridiculous and they are dangerous to others. Stop the cutting down of mature trees for developments who seem to hate greenery as it takes up expensive real estate. Only very mature trees provide O2 and clean the carbon dioxide. They also give areas character and provide wildlife a home. The clean homogenised replacement patches of green do not! Provide more recycling bins around streets to aid with littering.
Reduce the crazy numbers of buses which run mostly empty?!

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Avatar for - Monarch butterfly

Nowhere near enough is being done by Khan: Instead of pandering on about excess population, Khan wants to build evermore:

I visited Paris last week: A city with COHESIVE and HOMOGENOUS green parks in multiple spaces. The view from the...

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Nowhere near enough is being done by Khan: Instead of pandering on about excess population, Khan wants to build evermore:

I visited Paris last week: A city with COHESIVE and HOMOGENOUS green parks in multiple spaces. The view from the Eiffel Tower confirm this view vie the ground:

London, in comparison is GREY!!, Few specks of "green", overcome and overrun by greed and developments of GREY asphalt, concrete and glass.

London, compared to a world class city as Paris (and Berlin!) is nothing: A dusty desert of dry dust due to overdevelopment.

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it is turning into a large swimming pool of sludge  all pavements wet full of algae. n moss.  silt from charcoal grills and fat  black buildings plus diesal vans non stop deliveries to takeaways.  . they run the vans 28 hours a fay to get...

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it is turning into a large swimming pool of sludge  all pavements wet full of algae. n moss.  silt from charcoal grills and fat  black buildings plus diesal vans non stop deliveries to takeaways.  . they run the vans 28 hours a fay to get their moneys worh out if the 12 wuid a day charge.  like living in an industrial estate in mile end and stepney.  

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Avatar for - Vaquita

Hi, how are you?
I live in Brazil and I have a paper on London to do, regarding smart cities. If you can help me, I'd appreciate it;

- What strategies have been adopted to implement the smart city guidelines;

- how was the receptivity of...

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Hi, how are you?
I live in Brazil and I have a paper on London to do, regarding smart cities. If you can help me, I'd appreciate it;

- What strategies have been adopted to implement the smart city guidelines;

- how was the receptivity of the residents with the things installed;

- Was there a cost to the population (taxes derived from the implementation of such resources)?

- what are the city's prospects for the coming years.

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Hi FIB2021

We're fine, thanks for asking. Hope you are too?

Thank you for your questions. This discussion thread isn't the right place for this topic. Please have a look at this web page where you can find all the different ways to get in touch with the Smart London team: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/business-and-economy/supporting-lo…

Good luck with your paper!

Talk London

Avatar for - Monarch butterfly

Hello FIB2021.
I can help you: The population of London has doubled between 1990 and 2022 and is the majority driver for EXCESS population (= too many children)
https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/download/file/fid/792
https://data.london.gov...

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Hello FIB2021.
I can help you: The population of London has doubled between 1990 and 2022 and is the majority driver for EXCESS population (= too many children)
https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/download/file/fid/792
https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/londons-population

London has developed ZERO "smart guideline which actually help to reduce traffic and overpopulation The Mayor does not care, except for business.
https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/business-and-economy/supporting-lo…

Nobody gives a f**k about about residents, the rich developers bribe politicians and then get planning approval.

9400 EXTRA people die in London from pollution each year https://www.londonair.org.uk/LondonAir/General/research.aspx

The city's prospectives are DOOM and gloom. No prospects because the city is based on Illegal money laundering, a criminal rich people's stock market and a FAILING property "market" with overinflated prices

LONDON IS HOPEFULLY DOOMED TO SINK INTO OBLIVION, considering its harbouring of criminals and dodgy investors that use tax haven accounts to invest, something happily tolerated by Khan (and Johnson).
Hopefully, London is going to be destroyed by the very corruption in big business that it created.

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The mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced that he intends to expand the ultra low emission zone to include the whole of greater London . He says this is the only way to drive down emissions from vehicles and to meet the Uk climate...

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The mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced that he intends to expand the ultra low emission zone to include the whole of greater London . He says this is the only way to drive down emissions from vehicles and to meet the Uk climate change targets. I say he`s man on a mission to save the planet all by himself. The plan is to complete this change by the end of 2023. This means all vehicles which don`t meet the ULEZ emission standards will have to be sold or scrapped, unless their owners are prepared to pay a daily charge of £12.50.
This will include all petrol cars more than 17 years old and all diesel models over 7 years old. I would guess that this will include over 100000 vehicles in the greater London area and many more coming in from outside. Perfectly good vehicles ,most cherished by their owners and all passing their annual MOT test. All will be rendered worthless ! It is a well known fact that manufacturing a new car puts up a massive amount of co2 emissions, which takes an average of 8 years to pay back ,ie for it to start being green. Better to leave the older vehicle to run its course and be scrapped at the end of its life.
Mayor Khan insists that his plan is feasible ,I say it s misguided. Does he think that all those people, many of them poorer people will have the cash to replace their vehicle ,what with energy bills going through the roof ,and soon to follow food, clothing , in fact anything delivered by road seeing massive increases. Oh yes ,as long as our Labour mayor can continue in his gas guzzling range rover and remove as many poorer people off the roads as possible he will achieve his goal. I would guess that deep down he despises the very people he claims to represent .The man has failed on every count, He`s a fool and the sooner he`s gone the better !

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Agreed. Better to provide incentives to go all electric than hit people with a stick. The cost of erecting thousands of cameras in Outer London is going to be colossal and guess who will be paying for that. Then as the revenue stream dries...

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Agreed. Better to provide incentives to go all electric than hit people with a stick. The cost of erecting thousands of cameras in Outer London is going to be colossal and guess who will be paying for that. Then as the revenue stream dries up (this is what this is about after all) the criteria for conformant vehicles will be tightened up in the name of Pollution and Climate Change. The irony is that the reasoning for the ULEZ expansion is to reduce pollution, emissions and congestion and yet the Report states the vast majority of vehicles are already compliant so how are these goals achieved. There is no logic at all in the Report. Even if everyone who owned a non-compliant vehicle could afford to purchase a new one I doubt that would be possible in light of the problems with buying new cars due to the semi-conductor shortage which is reported to last into 2024. This whole proposal is misguided and our Mayor who surely has nothing but contempt for those he allegedly represents is trying to implement this at a time when everyone is facing huge increases in costs for everything but oh no he doesn't care, lets put even more pressure on Londoners and this measure will hit the poorest who rely on their vehicles and who cannot afford new ones and who cannot use Public Transport because it is rubbish. In Outer London we have far less options. I can either drive to Banstead in 10-15 minutes or use a Bus which takes well over an hour and is unreliable and I won't mention the Train service which is dire with a station situated miles away from the high street and with one having to take one's life into their hands trying to cross the A217. The Mayor simply has no idea and whilst he pretends to care he really doesn't give a hoot about real people. He only cares about his own image. The way he treated the Metropolitan Police Commissioner says how callous an individual he is.

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Avatar for - Tiger

ULEZ is not fair and is not right.

The scheme unfairly penalises those with reliable well looked after older cars who cannot afford to or do not want to scrap them.

How can it be right that I can be charged for driving 2 miles in to...

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ULEZ is not fair and is not right.

The scheme unfairly penalises those with reliable well looked after older cars who cannot afford to or do not want to scrap them.

How can it be right that I can be charged for driving 2 miles in to the zone which would create minimal emissions in the zone yet a newer, but still polluting vehicle can drive in the zone FOC all day creating far more harmful emissions all be it at a lower rate per mile.

Surly the fairest and most effective solution is a charge for all vehicles based on total emissions created or total miles driven in the zone using black box technology similar to that of insurance companies.

Failing that why are there no schemes, grants help or advice to modify existing vehicles to be more compliant either by retrofit euro rating upgrade or EV conversion. This would save good vehicles from the scrapyard while also making them less polluting.

Also the 40 year threshold is too long for historic recognition I have a 1990 Honda motorbike that I am restoring it is only a 399cc petrol engine so it is quite small but because it was built before euro rating was introduced it is £12.50 per day.

My 2010 daily drive is a Euro 5 diesel the car is well loved and well looked after why is there no help to upgrade the exhaust to Euro 6 standard.

I feel this ULEZ scheme is more about raising revenue from those who can least afford it than meaningfully improving air quality.

It is a great concern that this unfair and discriminatory scheme may be rolled out to all London boroughs

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Do you actually enforce the Clean Air Act?

There has been a huge increase in people with log burners and open fires.

Due to the increase in the cost of gas and electricity this is likely to increase further.

People need to know more...

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Do you actually enforce the Clean Air Act?

There has been a huge increase in people with log burners and open fires.

Due to the increase in the cost of gas and electricity this is likely to increase further.

People need to know more about the Act, the reasons why it is in place, what alternative fuels they should use and what sanctions there are if smokeless fuel is not used.

This action will educate Londoners and help reduce emissions.

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I have received help to insulate my home and I have updated my boiler at great cost. I recycle and try to buy food with less packaging.
I drive my car only when necessary. I do less than 4K miles per year.

I live in a Victorian terrace...

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I have received help to insulate my home and I have updated my boiler at great cost. I recycle and try to buy food with less packaging.
I drive my car only when necessary. I do less than 4K miles per year.

I live in a Victorian terrace so there is little I can do to stop heat loss. I need to replace the windows as they are beyond repair but the cost will be 17k. I cannot afford this. You will see below why.

Expanding ULEZ to the suburbs will affect residents unfairly. We already walk a lot and use our cars to the minimum as they are so expensive to run. However, having a car is a necessity when you live on the outskirts of London. Hospital visits to Surrey and getting across London to help elderly relatives late at night. I am a Single parent supporting others and i travel alone at night so rely on a car. I moved to Twickenham for a better quality of life and cheaper housing. There is no tube line here. Bus services have been cut. I cannot afford to change my 20 year old car.

I cannot afford a secondhand car or any car. My credit has been ruined by economic abuse of my ex-husband.

I am not an unusual example as I have spoken to other residents in my road who say the same thing about changing their cars. We want to reduce emissions but there is no money to to it.

Scrappage schemes and incentives to get hybrid or electric cars need to cover 80% of the true cost. At the moment these schemes are excluding us. If you really want us to move over to lower emissions you need to fund more to help us do this. I really need your help and so do others who are working and struggling already with the cost of living. I am earning less than I did before 2008 and I am a professional. God help us please.

I am already frugal and limiting every penny I spend due to gas, petrol and mortgage interest rates.

Please listen to my call in to BBC Radio London on Friday 4 March at 8.36am.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0blym2n

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Avatar for - Tiger

The ULEZ scheme is badly flawed. The mayor wants to clean up London's air. That is not unreasonable. I demonstrate my point as follows. My car does not meet the emission standards so I would have to pay the ULEZ charge. My car is 22 years...

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The ULEZ scheme is badly flawed. The mayor wants to clean up London's air. That is not unreasonable. I demonstrate my point as follows. My car does not meet the emission standards so I would have to pay the ULEZ charge. My car is 22 years old and has almost been wrapped in cotton wool since new. I cannot (sensibly) scrap it. I could not find a cheap used car in the same 'as new' state as mine. It would be environmentally bad to scrap a perfectly good car with emissions as low as the day I bought it. I drive 2000 miles annually - 50 in the ULEZ . The emissions produced by manufacturing a new car far exceeds the additional emissions my car is likely to produce for its remaining life. On the other hand, somebody who has a 'small green car' and commutes every day into London and doing a high mileage produces vastly more harmful emissions than I do by maybe going into the ULEZ area three times annually. But the high emissions produced by the daily commuter is deemed acceptable, but the emissions my car produces during the 50 miles I might drive within the ULEZ is not. If the mayor wants to reduce emissions then all cars should pay (other than electric cars). I would not scrap my car which is better than the new ones.

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Avatar for - Tiger

I absolutely agree. This is an unfair and badly flawed scheme that is really for revenue raising rather the pollution reduction

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I absolutely agree. This is an unfair and badly flawed scheme that is really for revenue raising rather the pollution reduction

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There are too many golf courses in London that are underused yet grossly subsidised. Convert some and parts of others to parks and housing.

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Every south/south-east/south-west facing and every flat roof should be covered in solar panels

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If LGA is serious in its wish to reduce emissions from vehicles then it should start by this year introducing a ban on all private cars that are not battery powered (Disability exceptions apply) from driving anywhere in the Congestion...

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If LGA is serious in its wish to reduce emissions from vehicles then it should start by this year introducing a ban on all private cars that are not battery powered (Disability exceptions apply) from driving anywhere in the Congestion Charge Zone on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays of each week. This should be extended after a period of one year to include non-battery powered delivery vehicles, taxis, and public transport.
At the same time it should add new routes for buses to better service residents of newly developed areas and improve services on existing routes.

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Avatar for - Tiger

On top of air pollution, Havering Council which is run by Conservatives do nothing to tackle pollution coming from cars that are illegally modified with making excessive noise not to mention the toxic chemicals being released.
Just like...

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On top of air pollution, Havering Council which is run by Conservatives do nothing to tackle pollution coming from cars that are illegally modified with making excessive noise not to mention the toxic chemicals being released.
Just like Conservatives do nothing about climate change and have let everyone down not to mention how they messed up everything with Covid, they are now neglecting more serious matters to do with the environment. How would anyone on this forum feel loads of cars were outside your home that has its exhaust modified in a way to release nothing but untold pollution with noise louder than fireworks? You would be fuming and more to the point you would want to ensure the council does its job instead of being lazy and showing absolutely no care. This is what Havering Council have done. There is no law enforcement in place to challenge these drivers. To add even more disgrace to what this council have neglected is the fact anyone driving a car or van in Havering can sound their horn whenever they feel lke it, if this happened in central London or elsewhere the driver would get a fine. In Havering drivers are immune from any penalty fines because its lawless and anything which was mentoned above stands in this disgrace of a borough that do not care about climate change.

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Avatar for - American pika

A huge addition to air pollution where I live is the vast increase in the use of outdoor fire pits, bbq’s and open fires in houses. People burn anything to save money so. The summer is worse as soon as there is a hint of sun I can’t breathe...

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A huge addition to air pollution where I live is the vast increase in the use of outdoor fire pits, bbq’s and open fires in houses. People burn anything to save money so. The summer is worse as soon as there is a hint of sun I can’t breathe because of smoky fires. In the winter our area suffers from the high numbers of cabbies running their cars while stationary for hours, polluting the air. People need a leaflet drop reminding them of helping keep the air clean by not doing certain things especially burning rubbish and household waste in bonfires in their gardens! I would like to cycle places but still even in 20mph zones people speed near you and the number of lorries on the road driving at speed scare me off!

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The proposals for 'journey charge' are poorly thought through as means to improving London's emissions. In December 2021 sale of Electric cars increased to 25% of all cars sold in the UK, and across 2021 up threefold over 2020. At current...

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The proposals for 'journey charge' are poorly thought through as means to improving London's emissions. In December 2021 sale of Electric cars increased to 25% of all cars sold in the UK, and across 2021 up threefold over 2020. At current rate, the majority of new cars in London will be electric within a year or two. And 70% of that electricity is generated using renewable and nuclear sources, with that percentage rising.

Rolling out 'journey charge' ostensibly for the purpose of cleaning London's air or reducing its emissions is misguided. It just puts a massive additional cost burden on Londoners, at a time that emissions from vehicles is plummeting.

Getting London's budget addicted to 'journey charge' is therefore a mistake. Unlike heroin, such taxes create dependency to the revenue source and are impossible to go 'cold turkey' on and roll back.

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Agree. We the taxpayers of London will have to pay for a massive infrastructure programme to install cameras. The revenue generated over time from the ULEZ will reduce. I suspect that what will happen if this goes ahead is that the...

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Agree. We the taxpayers of London will have to pay for a massive infrastructure programme to install cameras. The revenue generated over time from the ULEZ will reduce. I suspect that what will happen if this goes ahead is that the Compliance criteria will be tightened up as revenue is reduced so unless you buy an all electric car you are going to have to pay at some point. The Mayor needs to be more creative in generating revenue for London. Public Transport is never going to generate the profits it used to (well, the tube generated profit which was used to subsidise the bus network) with home working which will inevitably increase over time. Get creative Sadiq and look at other means of generating funds. Perhaps if you hadn't been so misguided to freeze fares when you became Mayor the first time around you would still have money in your coffers to fund stuff

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