Angry drivers slam new ULEZ zone as ‘shambles’ after congestion charge expanded

FURIOUS drivers have slammed London’s new ULEZ zone as an “utter shambles”.

The London Ultra-Low Emission Zone boundary vastly expanded yesterday meaning drivers of older cars and vans will have to pay a £12.50 charge for every day they enter it.

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It now covers everywhere inside the North and South Circular roads, a huge residential area – and if motorists don’t pay the daily charge, they’ll be hit with a £160 fine.

But affected drivers have now slammed the charge as expensive, confusing and a “shambles”.

One explained on Twitter: “Came home via Catford South Circ last night. 

“One half of the road outside the ULEZ, the other inside the zone. What an utter shambles.”

While another social media user worried about how the charge will affect lower income families.

They wrote: “The ULEZ charge will push more families into poverty. 

“Even 1 urgent trip a week will cost those who cannot afford it £12.50 or 2 days worth of food. What a choice you are giving some of our poorest people.”

A third wondered: “If someone is currently driving into the ULEZ zone everyday and are unaware of its existence, how many fines will they have accumulated before they are notified by @tfl? 

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“They will have a huge amount to pay and possibly no means to pay it.”

They added: “My point is that some people who live very busy and sometimes chaotic lives will be getting a bill for maybe 14 days fines that they do not have the means to pay and are not aware that these fines are even happening to them.”

The scheme is designed to push people into greener cars, or to use public transport more, to clean up the capital’s air.

The charge applies to any diesel car or van that doesn’t meet the Euro 6 exhaust standard.

That is basically older than September 2015, although some Euro 6 cars were on sale before that.

‘MONEY-RAISING SCHEME’

For petrols, only older stuff gets hit. The cutoff is pre-Euro 4. Newer than 2005 escapes the charge.

Classic cars are free if they are more than 40 years old and the charge even covers motorbikes pre-Euro 3, which is 2007.

Speaking earlier today on LBC’s Cross Question, the Transport Secretary said: “Look, I don’t approve of the way [Sadiq Khan has] done this ULEZ charge, this additional sort of wheeling it out to the North and South Circular.

“I don’t think he had the consent of the people fully.

“He has not given, as has been suggested, a one-month moratorium.

“The charge is £160 for breaking it. I mean if this is not a money-raising scheme, I don’t know what it is.”

The charge doesn’t apply on December 25. But otherwise it is 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

There is no discount for residents, although there are some exemptions for the disabled and refunds for people visiting hospital.

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