We wholeheartedly support the Mayor of London with the extension of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Our Tory opposition and a number of Tory councils have been making a lot of noise about the ULEZ extension which impacts our borough, but we know that backing the ULEZ extension is the right thing to do.

We have been focusing on health a lot over the past few months, with the Marmot report showing just how important it is to give our children the best start in life. This must include air quality. Poor air quality contributed to the deaths of 4,000 Londoners, including 116 in Waltham Forest, in 2019. Toxic air is making us sick from cradle to the grave as kids grow up with stunted lungs and adults develop cancers and lung disease. The ULEZ is all about getting the most polluting vehicles off our streets so that everyone can live their lives with healthy air and we wholeheartedly know it’s the right thing to do.

Our borough saw the second-largest decrease of car ownership in London in 2021. Of course some residents rely on vehicles, which is why we continue to expand our car club offer and have installed 600 electric vehicle charging points, with a target of reaching 1,000 by the end of the year.

We know that locally, cleaner air initiatives are already popular. We love our School Streets and parents love them too, so much that they keep asking for more! We’ve been recognised for our leadership with the title of the Best Outer London Borough in the Healthy School Streets rankings. The council is also helping local businesses and traders to reduce emissions and costs through our zero-emissions delivery service ZED Waltham Forest that offers swift, environmentally-friendly deliveries by knowledgeable local employees alongside free access to a fleet of cargo bikes. It’s clear we are leading the way and doing a good job on this important issue.

For a number of years we have been pushing the Mayor to extend the ULEZ so we are very pleased it’s finally coming to our entire borough. The expansion of the ULEZ firmly demonstrates the strong leadership credentials of Sadiq in his role as London Mayor and he is leading the way on this issue globally amongst Mayors. It also further demonstrates to our residents how a Labour Party, under the strong leadership of Sir Keir Starmer, will make the decisions which are often difficult in the short term but are ultimately the right decisions for the right reasons in the medium and long term. To be a government-in-waiting we must take decisions which we know are for the good of every resident and the ULEZ is exactly that. Around 85% of vehicles seen driving in outer London are already compliant so these changes will only impact a small number.

Whilst we do not want to minimise the potentially difficult impact the ULEZ expansion may have in the short term, we are heartened that the Mayor has announced the biggest ever scrappage scheme. The scheme is £110 million to support Londoners on lower incomes, disabled Londoners, micro businesses and charities to scrap or retrofit their non-compliant vehicles. The Mayor knows that he needs to ensure every Londoner can get around, so in response to disabled Londoners’ responses to the consultation, he’s extending the exemption period for London’s disabled drivers and community transport minibuses run by not-for-profit organisations to October 2027 and October 2025 respectively. He’s also introducing new exemptions for disabled drivers and wheelchair accessible vehicles, including those who automatically qualify for a Blue Badge. You can find out more if that affects you here.

Whilst the £110m scheme is very generous, we know that more money is always needed to help our residents transition to active travel and less polluting cars. We are incredibly disappointed that the Government has chosen not to contribute a penny to the scheme. Over £400m a year is taken from London car owners through Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) that is not returned to our city. Even a partial contribution would have dramatically increased access to the scrappage scheme among residents, charities, and businesses.

For all of our hardworking activists out on the doorstep, you can share this handy link with residents to check if their car is already ULEZ compliant: tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/ and everyone with a non-compliant vehicle can check if they are eligible for money off scrappage here: tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/scrappage-schemes/

I hope you will support us in our wholehearted defence of the ULEZ as we campaign for a better future for all Londoners.