Bromley Conservatives have called into question the news from the Mayor of London that ULEZ has had a dramatic impact on air quality in the Borough.
Today, The Mayor announced that since ULEZ was introduced, Nitrogen oxides in the air has reduced by 4.8% in Outer London boroughs - thereby claiming the policy was a success.
However, Bromley Conservatives have called this into question. In his previous update, the Mayor claimed that the amount of Nitrogen oxides in the air had reduced by 4.4% - meaning in the intervening period, it has only reduced by 0.4%. When taken into the wider context of reductions in air pollution over a longer period of time, alongside other factors such as improved emissions standards from car manufacturers, this does not represent a large enough reduction in emissions to be considered a success.
Bromley Conservatives have pointed out that ULEZ has forced many of the most vulnerable in the Borough to take on unneeded costs, and prevented frontline workers from getting to work in local hospitals and schools.
This is underlined by a recent paper from the British Retail Consortium that ULEZ has had a negative impact on Outer London’s High Streets.
Bromley Conservatives have continuously opposed the policy since it’s proposal. Bromley launched a legal challenge with other local authorities against the scheme, and passed a motion on Bromley Council calling on the Mayor to ditch the policy - stances that have been overwhelmingly backed by Bromley residents.
Cllr. Colin Smith, Leader of Bromley Conservatives, said:
“ Everyone knows that Bromley was, is and will remain one of the Boroughs with the cleanest air in London and even TfL’s own figures at the time of their dodgy study and even dodgier consultation confirmed that.
“Everyone also knew that AQ across outer London was set to improve over time either with or without ULEZ so it hardly comes as a shock to hear it confirmed if the figures being bandied about today can be trusted.
“The simple fact remains that if Mayor Khan were genuine with his claim that expanding ULEZ were about AQ rather than financially rinsing motorists across Outer London to boost his own revenue, he would have started by taking a closer look far nearer to home, namely across his entire underground tube train network given the disgusting levels of pollution that can be found there on a daily basis. That wouldn’t have raised any money for him though.
“Never mind the destroyed care networks, people having to change jobs, the huge financial expense for people and businesses having to buy new vehicles they didn’t want or need this one size fits all lunacy has since caused.
“Far easier to prey on motorists it would seem.
“People need to remain alert and stay on their guard as Pay for Mile is next up, despite the denials to the contrary”.
Thomas Turrell AM, London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley, said:
"This report exposes how unnecessary Labour's ULEZ exposed was. All the harm and misery caused, all for a fractional decrease in pollution - which cannot even be attributed to the policy because air pollution in Outer London has been improving year on year.
This again demonstrates that the Mayor and Labour just don't understand places like Bromley."
