As ULEZ expands across all of London, Ealing Friends of the Earth “delighted that Sadiq Khan has kept his nerve and is introducing it”

As London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expands across London from today (29 August 2023) to include all London boroughs, the move has been strongly welcomed by Ealing Friends of the Earth.

The ecological group said it is “delighted that Sadiq Khan has kept his nerve and is introducing it” by expanding it across all of London.

Nic Ferriday, spokesperson for Ealing Friends of the Earth said: “Air pollution is a major public health issue and ULEZ is the only scheme that would make a real difference in the near term.”

He added: “There has been a vitriolic campaign against ULEZ extension and we are delighted that Sadiq Khan has kept his nerve and is introducing it anyway. All Londoners have a right to breathe clean air – we should not allow the ‘car lobby’ to undermine that right. We must not consign Londoners to more years of ill health and deaths from air pollution.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “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.”

He added: “All the evidence shows that it’s clean air zones like ULEZ that are the gamechanger in a city like London when it comes to cutting toxic air quickly and meaningfully to protect people’s health. It’s thanks to the ULEZ that we are now set to get London’s air to within legal limits in the next couple of years, 184 years earlier than previously projected.

Dr Onkar Sahota a local GP and deputy chair of the London Assembly said on X (previously known as Twitter): “The ULEZ is effective in all of London from today. It was a tough decision but we have the responsibility to improve the air that Londoners breathe. We also have a duty to help people make the change. ⁦@MayorofLondon⁩ and @CityHallLabour⁩ are there to help.”

Ealing Conservatives have voiced their anger at the introduction of ULEZ. Julian Gallant, leader of Ealing Conservatives said previously in April: “ULEZ expansion is an ill-conceived attack on low income drivers and traders with which we fundamentally disagree. There is minimal evidence that the expansion will significantly improve air quality.”

Residents across the borough have also been divided on the introduction which supporters say will reduce bad air that causes around 4,000 premature deaths a year across London of which 150 are in Ealing.

On X, @Sinem_Gorucu_ said: “As an Ealing resident with genetic asthma conditions, I TOTALLY SUPPORT THIS DECISION. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 I am sick of the pollution here. The fact that we supporters are not vocal does not mean we do not exist, everyone I know support this decision.”

Opposing the introduction and in response to the post, @MarkBursa replied: “You’re in Ealing. Not the outer boroughs. ULEZ will only make a tiny improvement in air quality in outer London. How about sorting out other areas of pollution first, rather than hitting the poorest in society?”