'Our neighbourhood is split in two by £12.50 charge to get to work every day'
Residents say their neighbourhood is being split in two by in one west London neighbourhood complain that it's being split in two by new traffic rules that mean drivers will be fined for turning down the wrong road or going to work.
Since the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) was rolled out across London it has faced some opposition, including a failed legal challenge. But locals in Northwood, west London, say they could be hit with the £12.50 charge if they make a wrong turn in their neighbourhood.
The newly established boundary in Hillingdon runs parallel to Green Lane, effectively dividing the residential streets of Maxwell Road and Hallowell Road from Green Lane. Local business owners have voiced their concerns, claiming that the ULEZ expansion is already taking a significant toll on their operations, MyLondon reports.
Farri, 60, the owner of Cofix Café on Green Lane is one such businessman who has voiced his opposition to the scheme. His car doesn't meet the required emissions standard so he faces paying the daily charge now as he transports stock to his café. Farri says he can't afford a new vehicle but joined a local leisure centre so he could park there.
Farri, 60, the owner of Cofix Café on Green Lane in the neighbourhood (Facundo Arrizabalaga)But this soon may not be possible, as with the return of kids to school, the centre will need the parking spaces so he says he faces the £12.50 charge. The Mayor of London has set up a number of financial schemes to help Londoners, including the scrappage scheme, and for small and mini businesses and sole traders.
ULEZ scrappage scheme where you can get £2,000 - how to apply for cash grant
The new ULEZ camera is installed just around the corner from his café, and Farri said: "It's in the worst location for the businesses along here. Not just me, everybody is angry. It's silly, honestly silly. I go to the cash and carry everyday, for cans of tomato and everything, going the extra five yards will now cost £12.50. For that I have to sell an extra 10 teas, I'm already working a 90 hour week because I am low on staff."
Oktay, 32, a fast food delivery driver, shares Farri's predicament. His scooter isn't ULEZ compliant and he passes the camera on every shift. While some businesses can pass on the cost to customers, Oktay explains how this isn't possible in his line of work.
He said: "I used to get tips from customers when I dropped off the food and that would help cover my transport costs. Now everyone orders and pays on the app and they never add a tip. No one has change on them either anymore so I'm also losing an extra £2 per delivery."
Self-employed drivers have been granted the ability to claim tax relief on daily charges. This applies to workers with non-compliant vehicles, provided their journey was "exclusively for the purposes of the trade".
HMRC said in a statement: "Self Assessment customers are entitled to tax relief on travel expenses, including low emission zone charges, if they have been incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the trade. When a self-employed individual claims an allowable expense, the amount is deducted fully from their taxable profits."
However, opposition to the expansion of ULEZ isn't limited to those directly affected. Paull, 44, doesn't live in Northwood but runs a gardening business with clients in the area. Although his van isn't susceptible to the charge, he expressed sympathy for those impacted.
Northwood business owners claim the ULEZ expansion is already having a huge impact on them (Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)He said: “You can understand in inner London but here is more suburban, more rural, I just don’t think it’s needed. I don’t see the point of it in this sort of area where the air quality should be a lot better already. I’m sure there are better ways of doing it. Where one of my clients is, just down the bottom of the road is where the zone starts. She is not happy because they have two old cars so just driving down the road costs them now.”
While every vehicle on the road seems to comply with ULEZ standards, everyone seemingly knows someone who is affected. Sofia, 39, claimed that some of her friends had to replace their cars due to the new regulations.
Sofia, however, owns an '08 reg car and has escaped the need for a new purchase or paying the charge. She said: "I get away with it. Just."
Despite the challenges, Sofia backs the expansion from a health standpoint, citing the "sometimes very high" pollution levels in the area. She added: "It will be good for everyone's health. There's not too much traffic now but when the schools are back it's really bad along this road in the morning and afternoon so the pollution is awful. Hopefully that changes."
ULEZ expansion - what you need to know as thousands more drivers risk £180 fine
Many residents echo Sofia's support for improving air quality, but question the necessity of extending the ULEZ this far out of the city. Janet, 74, who was "amazed" that her 2002 reg car met the requirements, voiced this sentiment. She said: "Most people think clean air is a good idea in principle but they don't think this is necessary right out here. It's done its job in Central London but out here I just don't think you need it."
An estimated 155 people die prematurely from toxic air in Hillingdon each year, according to data from the Mayor of London's office. Research from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) suggests improving air quality in London would provide an economic benefit of almost £500 million per year to the local economy due to fewer days lost due to illness.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London acknowledged the difficulty of the decision to expand the ULEZ zone, stating it "was not an easy one". However, they emphasized the city's duty to tackle toxic air pollution, promising cleaner air for millions of residents as a result.
The spokesperson sympathized with businesses "struggling as a result of the cost of living crisis" and highlighted the £110 million scrappage scheme designed to aid micro-businesses, sole traders, charities, those on lower incomes, and individuals with disabilities.
Leader of Harrow Council, Cllr Paul Osborn, said: "I firmly believe that ULEZ expansion is the wrong scheme for outer London. We had an arguable case, and the fact that we got this far in our challenge against this unpopular scheme shows that we were right to proceed.”Leader of Harrow Council, Cllr Paul Osborn, said: "I firmly believe that ULEZ expansion is the wrong scheme for outer London. We had an arguable case, and the fact that we got this far in our challenge against this unpopular scheme shows that we were right to proceed."
Earlier this year, Hillingdon, alongside Harrow, Bexley, Bromley, and Surrey Councils, challenged the decision through a judicial review. However, the landmark High Court case ruled in favour of the mayor last month (July 28), concluding that the expansion is lawful.
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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