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0 Farmers have banded together to join the growing protests against Sadiq Khan‘s Ulez expansion.
The controversial scheme is set to force Londoners to pay an incredible £12.50-a-day to drive in the capital from August 29, if their cars don’t meet certain environmental standards.
Tractors paraded through the streets of Orpington today as locals slammed the Labour Mayor of London‘s extreme plan, which is attempting to make the air cleaner.
Khan has faced staunch criticism recently over branding some Ulez opponents as ‘far-right’ and ‘Covid deniers’.
Footage on Saturday showed demonstrators wearing ‘Khanage’ high-viz jackets as they handed out fliers during the parade.
Farmers in tractors in Orpington, southeast London, paraded the streets today (pictured) as they joined the growing protests against Sadiq Khan’s Ulez expansion
Footage on Saturday showed demonstrators wore ‘Khanage’ high-viz jackets as they handed out fliers during the parade
The controversial scheme is set to force Londoners to pay an incredible £12.50-a-day to drive in the capital from August 29, if their cars don’t meet certain environmental standards
Orpington MP Gareth Bacon MP said he would ‘do everything in his power’ to prevent Khan’s Ulez charge from coming to Orpington.
He said: ‘Not only is the mayor taxing people who do not vote for him, but he will also end up making the poor poorer and punishing those on lower incomes who can least afford to buy a newer car to avoid the daily charge.
‘It will punish people, small businesses, and charities who cannot afford a new vehicle to raise money for Sadiq Khan’s failing administration.
‘Imposing cite-centre driving measures onto Outer London will do far more harm than good, especially when people are already feeling the squeeze because of inflation and global supply problems.’
Tractors paraded through the streets of Orpington today as locals gathered to slam the Labour Mayor of London’s extreme plan, which is attempting to make the air cleaner.
Stephen Sangster, Chair of the Knoll Residents Association in Orpington, told MailOnline: ‘We are passionate about improving air quality in Orpington but this measure is targeting the wrong people, and to a large extent, the wrong vehicles’
He added: ‘You see a lot of large 4X4s in this area that are all compliant with ULEZ but those driving smaller but older vehicles will have to pay’
Stephen Sangster, Chair of the Knoll Residents Association in Orpington, told MailOnline: ‘We are passionate about improving air quality in Orpington but this measure is targeting the wrong people, and to a large extent, the wrong vehicles.
‘The £12.50 daily charge will impact those who can least afford it.
‘You see a lot of large 4X4s in this area that are all compliant with ULEZ but those driving smaller but older vehicles will have to pay.
‘My neighbour is having to buy a newer car because of this change and it is more polluting than the ULEZ non-compliant version they are replacing!
‘That’s even before you think of all the energy and pollution that goes into making a car.
‘For me, the worst aspect of all of this is the disregard for local democracy.
Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has faced staunch criticism recently over branding some Ulez opponents as ‘far-right’ and ‘Covid deniers’
A Labour council was accused of hypocrisy after backing Sadiq Khan’s controversial expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) – then asking for an exemption for its own 400 vehicles
‘In the consultation it was clear that the overwhelming majority of residents didn’t want Ulez expanded to Orpington.
‘But this was ignored. We have lots of ideas how to improve local air quality but we are not sure the Mayor is listening. I fear this change will go ahead regardless of local feeling.’
Just last month the Labour Mayor begged PM Rishi Sunak to spend £110million to prop up his controversial ULEZ scheme.
The Labour Mayor of London has already made hundreds of millions from his hated ultra low emission zone, as income rose from £77million to £226million in the last two years.
The Government smacked down Khan’s demands for more dosh, saying it was up to him to ‘justify his decision to expand the Ulez’ and make sure it is ‘not just a tax on the poorest motorists’.
A Government spokesman said: ‘We have provided TfL with £6billion in funding to keep public transport moving, as well as £2billion towards vehicle grants and infrastructure to support the rollout of clean vehicles across the country.’
The Government spokesman added: ‘More specifically, London has received almost £102million of Government funding for projects specifically targeted at helping to tackle pollution.’
He added: ‘Decisions on how to allocate funding to best meet the city’s transport priorities are for the Mayor of London to make.’
Khan’s Ultra Low Emission Zones have already garnered more than £200million in fines from hundreds of thousands of Londoners.
For diesel cars and vans to avoid the ULEZ charge they must generally have been registered from September 2015.
Meanwhile, most petrol models that are registered after 2005 are exempt.
London’s scrappage scheme for vehicles that do not comply with the emissions standards includes payments of up to £2,000 for eligible drivers – such as those on low incomes or the disabled scrapping a car.
Up to £9,500 is given for charities, sole traders and small businesses scrapping or retrofitting their vans or minibuses.
Home counties residents are not eligible for the initiative.
