Ulez branded a 'sickening ploy' as hospital patients 'trapped' by Sadiq Khan's eco-charge
The camera, which was once disabled but has now been turned on again, faces the entrance of the hospital
Twitter/PA/Wikimedia Commons
Ulez has been branded “a sickening ploy” in a letter by an MP who has warned one enforcement camera facing a hospital is putting off patients and guests from visiting.
Paul Scully, MP for Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park has written a letter to Sadiq Khan calling for the removal of the Ulez camera facing the Royal Marsden hospital in Surrey.
The MP expressed his disdain at the scheme and said many of his constituents felt the same way.
He referenced one appalled constituent who said that the camera was a “sickening ploy to trap people coming from across the UK for treatment as the hospital address is in Surrey”.
Scully said many of his constituents were unhappy with the placement of the Ulez camera
Wikimedia Commons
Scully agreed with his constituent’s comments.
The MP also states that whilst the camera had been taken down in the past, it was quickly re-installed.
He said: “My constituents and I in Sutton are appalled that this camera is still operational with the express intention of catching motorists venturing little more than a hundred metres into the Ulez boundary to visit their loved ones, receive treatment or attend their place of work.”
He urged the Mayor of London to reconsider disabling this camera.
“It is currently serving as a prominent lightning rod towards those who are willing to take the law into their own hands and its removal is the best outcome for all concerned”.
The Royal Marsden has two sites, one in London and one in Surrey.
Khan’s controversial scheme was expanded last week, now affecting all motorists driving into London.
Drivers will now have to pay a £12.50 daily fee if their vehicle is non-Ulez compliant.
The charge will hit petrol vehicles introduced earlier than 2005 which are not compliant with Euro 4 emissions regulations.
Diesel cars and vans are only exempt if their engine complies with Euro 6 rules, which were introduced in September 2015.
Councils bordering the capital have largely rejected the Mayor’s appeal to put Ulez signs up.
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Sadiq Khan's Ulez scheme has been slammed by many neighbouring councils
PABuckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and Thurrock have rejected calls from TFL to put up the signs.
Slough is the only one of the seven local authorities bordering the capital that has agreed to the signage.
Matt Furniss, a cabinet member for transport at Surrey Country Council said that they will not set up signage “whilst there isn’t any mitigation in place to minimise the impact of the expansion on Surrey residents”.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London responded to the incident and said: “The Mayor has been clear that the decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide was not an easy one, but necessary to tackle toxic air pollution and the climate crisis. Around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to air pollution, children are growing up with stunted lungs and thousands of people in our city are developing life-changing illnesses, such as cancer, lung disease, dementia and asthma.
“Nine out of ten cars seen driving in outer London on an average day are already Ulez compliant and their drivers will not have to pay the charge. The Mayor is doing all he can to support Londoners with the switch to cleaner vehicles, and expanded the scrappage scheme so that every Londoner with a non-compliant car is eligible to apply for a £2,000 grant.”