The Bromley Green Party took part in the consultation to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). The deadline for this was Friday, 29th July 2022.
We clearly support any measure that helps to provide clean air but we also highlighted that other measures have to be introduced.
See below our views that were submitted to TFL:
The Bromley Green Party supports the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
We recognise that there is a climate emergency, and we have to tackle toxic air pollution. There is a need to act quickly, and the ULEZ expansion is a welcome step.
There are, however, a number of considerations:
- We are concerned that the ULEZ expansion may particularly affect those disadvantaged (e.g. on low income) and those in areas with poor provisions of alternative modes of travel (e.g. where there are infrequent bus or train connections or unsafe or non-existent cycle lanes etc.).
- As mentioned in the consultation document, a generous scrappage scheme should be in place for owners who do not have ULEZ complaint vehicles as this will otherwise lead to further inequalities, especially given the current context of a cost of living crisis.
- The ULEZ expansion should be just ONE of many measures. It has to go hand in hand with other measures. We need a real green transport revolution where public transport and active travel are promoted. In particular the south of the borough has seen reductions in bus services (frequency reductions can be seen or bus routes were re-routed or axed). There has to be investment in alternative transport modes (safe well-linked cycle lanes, frequent bus services, etc.) thus the expansion of the ULEZ needs to be linked with further actions that reduce traffic and promote clean air.
We do see a reluctance by Bromley council to support alternative modes of travel, e.g. the council does not actively promote school streets (see Environment and Community Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 15th July). This needs to be tackled and addressed and councils should be encouraged to support alternative modes of transport. The current support from Bromley council is minimal (e.g. poor provision of safe cycle lanes, minimal support regarding school streets etc).
Overall, we agree with Green Party London Assembly Member Zack Polanski who stated that "The ULEZ sets London on the right path” and also that “Reaching these new lower [WHO] limits requires serious and concerted action, which means we must reduce traffic in London – clean air doesn’t just mean changing the vehicles we use; it means changing the way we get around our city.”
(See his statement on the London Assembly webpage https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/assembly/zack-polanski/ulez-expansion-still-leaves-one-in-ten-roads-in-lo)
Thus the ULEZ expansion should not be a stand-alone measure. It has to be accompanied by a range of actions that reduce traffic and improve air quality.
