A retired cyclist has slammed the Council for its ‘short term view’ on the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez).

Amersham resident David van Rest, 88, has spoken out in favour of Ulez ahead of its expansion to the whole of Greater London and up to the Bucks border from August 29.

Drivers in the zone will face a daily fee of £12.50 if their vehicle doesn’t meet the Ulez emission standards.

Although Ulez is not coming to Buckinghamshire, the Council has called for the scheme to be scrapped and expressed concern over the impact on residents and on the county’s roads if an increased number of drivers divert onto Buckinghamshire roads in a bid to avoid the Ulez area.

David, who is now a driver and a formerly keen cyclist with a background in academic research in technology management, criticised the Council’s approach, saying they were “playing politics” with it.

He said: “Ulez is a big change and if you’re commuting 200 days a year then it’s a massive cost, but I’m sorry the Council is playing politics and taking a very short-term view.

“They should accept that it’s healthy to improve the air quality in cities and they ought to co-operate.”

He urged everybody to “get behind” Ulez and for the Council to support residents to purchase electric bikes. 

“But motorists are presumptuous and aggressive, it’s the nature of the beast. They want to drive where they want, when they want. But cars do cause pollution and cars kill people regularly on London roads,” he continued.

Residents commuting from Bucks to London have said they worry about the costs of either paying the new fee or upgrading their vehicle.

“Bad air in cities is a problem and everybody ought to work together to reduce it because not only does it affect health and cancer but also children and the chance of them getting asthma.

“They talk about percentage being low but it’s not a matter of percentage  because pollution does cause health problems, particularly diesel cars and the dust from breaks, it’s all particles getting into people’s lungs,” David, who at one point researched the effect of aerosol particles.

He said time will help people to get ready for the changes.

“It’s going to be introduced fairly gently but it does involve a change of behaviour and that is always painful, but change is necessary,” David added.

Transport for London (TfL) told PA news agency earlier that it can use “discretion” to first issue warning letters instead of costly penalty charge notices (PCNs).

Bucks Free Press: The Ultra Low Emission Zone map The Ultra Low Emission Zone map (Image: PA Media)

The upcoming expansion brought by the London Mayor Sadiq Khan is going ahead despite a High Court legal challenge by five Conservative-led London councils, including Buckinghamshire’s neighbour Hillingdon council.

Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member for transport Steven Broadbent said: “I want to be clear that as a council we are, of course, very supportive of activity that promotes cleaner air and addresses climate change – as demonstrated by our own comprehensive climate change and air quality strategy for Buckinghamshire.

 “However, where the expansion of the ULEZ is concerned, we have many major issues with this policy which we have repeatedly taken to the Mayor of London. It will hugely disadvantage many Buckinghamshire residents who are already impacted by cost of living pressures, and who need to make necessary journeys into London for work, healthcare and other reasons. Unlike London residents, people in Buckinghamshire are not eligible to benefit from the vehicle scrappage scheme. Until we see this, and other essential mitigations in place for Buckinghamshire residents, we cannot support this policy. It would therefore be at odds for us to install the signage TfL is requesting, so as not to undertake activity that facilitates a policy we do not agree with.”

He urged residents to make sure they are prepared for any changes Ulez brings to their journeys to London by road, including knowing where the Ulez boundary is.

“Even at this late stage, we continue to urge the Mayor of London in the strongest possible terms to address the concerns we and other bordering councils share about the impact of this policy on our residents,” he added.