London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s controversial Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion to cover every borough of the UK capital came in force on Tuesday, which means drivers must pay a charge of GBP 12.50 per day to drive a non-compliant vehicle anywhere in the city now.
Those driving in the zone in a high emissions non-compliant car must pay the daily surcharge online or by phone up to three days after they travelled. The penalty for not paying is set at GBP 180, which goes down to GBP 90 if it is paid within 14 days.
The expansion has proved controversial because of the steep costs involved for people, despite a scrappage compensation scheme for old vehicles.
“This is a landmark day for our city which will lead to a greener, healthier London for everyone. The decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide was a difficult one, but necessary to save lives, protect children’s lungs and help prevent asthma, dementia and other health issues,” said Khan.
“As Mayor, I’ve continued to listen to the concerns of Londoners, which is why we have massively expanded the scrappage scheme. This means all Londoners with non ULEZ-compliant cars can now get financial support to switch to greener, less polluting alternatives,” he said.