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Sadiq Khan previously said that the expansion of London’s Ultra-low Emission Zone will help to ensure that those living in the capital will be able to breathe cleaner air. However, despite health concerns and most vehicles being ULEZ-compatible, many people are against the idea.
In the latest string of protests, one ULEZ camera was covered by a Sainsbury’s shopping bag and another had a cardboard box taped to it with a caption reading “stop electing idiots”.
The ULEZ ANPR cameras are in use 24 hours a day and catch drivers with incompatible cars travelling across London.
The emission-free zone will be expanding on August 29, 2023, as part of Sadiq Khan’s plan to clean London’s air.
However, the measure is controversial with many people claiming that it’s another “money grab”.
The opponents of ULEZ took to social media to rejoice at the fact that some cameras had been covered.
One Twitter user wrote: “Absolutely love that locals in London have covered the money-grabbing ULEZ cameras with cardboard boxes and bags for life.”
Another added: “This is brilliant!! Taxing the poor yet again. So many people (especially the elderly) are going to become so isolated. Plus all the people trying to earn a living on poor pay. Just outrageous.”
It’s not just drivers opposing the planned expansion, with politicians and privacy campaign groups also pleading to Sadiq Khan to reverse his decision.
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Privacy campaign groups have stressed that on top of the charges, there are also concerns surrounding surveillance that will increase with the expansion.
Sophia Akram, of Open Rights Group, said: “That these cameras will be used regardless, even if the Ulez scheme doesn’t go ahead, will undermine public trust even further.”
It was reported last week that the Metropolitan Police might be able to use ULEZ cameras to monitor crime, even if the expansion is delayed.
The information was hidden in TfL’s Data Protection Assessment Ulez report which stated that the Met would be able to use the cameras for “law enforcement or policing purposes”.
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The latest TfL data shows that 300 news ANPR cameras have been installed across the expanded ULEZ.
The organisation plans to install another 2,750 cameras before the official launch of the expansion in August.
Figures show that around 700,000 more motorists could end up paying the £12.50 charge from August onwards.
It is understood that ULEZ has raked in £250million since it was implemented in 2019.
However, data from November 2022 shows that over 90 percent of vehicles within the whole of Greater London are ULEZ-compatible. The percentage for outer London stands at 85 percent.
Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC stressed that while cleaning up London’s air should be a “priority,” the number of incompatible vehicles in the capital cannot be ignored.
Mr Lyes said: “We desperately need more coordination between the Mayor and the Government to help small businesses, tradespeople, NHS staff and carers who have no choice but to drive into the expanded ULEZ for work purposes from outside Greater London.”
Speaking about the ULEZ expansion, Sadiq Khan previously said: “We have a big problem in our city. It’s a crisis, it’s an air quality crisis, which is leading to more than 4,000 premature deaths each year because of this invisible killer.
“Children are left with stunted lungs forever because of the poor air quality. And adults are left with a host of other health issues from asthma to cancer, from heart disease to lung disease.”
Mr Khan continued: “We need to cut the number of deaths in our city, the vast majority of which are occurring in outer London.
“So while we’ve seen big improvements in air quality in central London, we’ve not seen the same improvements in outer London and we won’t unless we expand the Ultra-low Emission Zone.
“Those that oppose me need to expect that those living in outer London will continue to suffer from asthma, continue to suffer a disproportionate amount of premature deaths.“
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