22 April 2023 , 21:55
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A family’s “cheap day out” ended up costing them thousands of pounds when they drove a gas-guzzling motorhome into London’s low emission zone.
Geoffrey Eaton, 53, travelled to the capital on Good Friday with his wife Linda and their two children Adam, 16, and Elizabeth, 13, to visit family.
However after driving their Laika Ecovip motorhome, which has a 2.8L engine, five miles in and out of the capital's low emission zone without paying, they face a hefty fine
The family made two five-mile journeys within the zone, to and from a campsite in Abbey Wood, for which he was charged £300 each time.
Geoffrey only realised he had twice entered the low emission zone when he got a penalty notice a week later, by which time the fine had doubled.
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The dad driving his motorhome which caused the fine (PA Real Life)
His wife Linda with their children, Adam and Elizabeth (PA Real Life)He said: “I didn't think any more of it and I forgot, to be perfectly frank, until yesterday, when I received the penalty charge notice.
“When I logged on, I found I’ve been charged £1,000 for the journey in on the Friday and then again for the journey out on the Sunday.
“If I’ve got to pay £100 for me to be stupid and not realise I went into the zone , then I would have paid that.
“But £ 2,000, that’s like a month’s salary – It’s a huge amount of money. We could have had a room in The Shard and instead we stayed in the motorhome for two nights.
“"We haven't been abroad in six years and this two grand fine would have completely scuppered our summer holidays.
“It came at the worst time because our heating and electricity bills have gone up and up, it's crippling us left, right and centre.
“Frankly, I didn't know where I was going to get the money to pay off the bill."
The family with their campervan at the campsite in London (PA Real Life)Navigating London’s ultra low emissions zone is not new for the dad who has already registered his Jaguar Xf with Transport for London.
However he did not realise the other zone extended to the M25 and affected his motorhome. Transport for London (TfL) have since agreed a "discretionary refund" of £1,400.
A TfL spokesman said: "When people face significant penalty charges we offer support and suggest a manageable way of settling outstanding amounts. We have discussed this with Mr Eaton and he is happy with the outcome.
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"The low emission zone (LEZ) has been in place since 2008 and is well established. All entry points to the zone are signed and there are advance warning signs ahead of these.
“The LEZ has been incredibly effective in discouraging people to travel in the capital in some of the heaviest polluting vehicles in circulation.
“We are now seeing 97 per cent of vehicles in the zone complying with the standards."