Outrage as ULEZ border means parents will be charged for school run
Outrage as ULEZ border in Surrey will see parents charged to drop off and pick up their children at 59 schools from September – just in time for the new school year
- More than 50 schools will be hit with the charges after August expansion
- Read more: Which cars DON’T pay London’s ultra low emission zone charge?
Parents at more than 50 schools will be hit with ULEZ charges for the daily drop off when the zone is expanded in August, causing further outrage against the controversial scheme.
Thousands of pupils in the catchment area will be hit by the £12.50 daily charge if their parents don’t own an exempt car as London Mayor Sadiq Khan clamps down on drivers.
Staff members who drive to work will also be affected by the changes, which have been criticised by Mr Khan’s political rivals, who have suggested the 2024 mayoral election could become a referendum on the ‘hated’ plan.
There are 59 schools within a kilometre of the new boundary in Surrey, which will be implemented from August 29.
A judicial review launched against the expansion proposals by a coalition of councils was granted extra grounds on May 26 for ‘unfair and unlawful consultation in relation to expected compliance rates’ and irrationality in the scrappage scheme.
Thousands of pupils in the catchment area will be hit by the charges if their parents don’t own an exempt car
A map showing the expanded ULEZ, which will come into force on August 29 2023
The scheme has triggered such outrage that furious Londoners have resorted to stealing and defacing dozens of ULEZ cameras in protest.
Concerns were first raised about the impact of the ULEZ expansion on education by Surrey County Council in July 2022, as part of its formal response to the consultation.
It said: ‘Consideration is needed for schools on the border that have pupils coming from both London and Surrey.’
Read more: ULEZ expansion 2023: When does it start and how can I check if my car is affected?
Cabinet member for transport, infrastructure, and growth at SCC, Matt Furniss, recently told Surrey Live the High Court’s approval of further grounds for judicial review as a ‘step forward’.
He added that the council would, ‘continue to highlight the significant financial and social impacts expansion of the ULEZ scheme would have on many of our residents and businesses.’
‘We remain committed to delivering a greener future, but it must be done in a practical and sustainable way. We will now await the findings of the Judicial Review in July.’
Councillor Simon Fawthrop of the London Borough of Bromley said after last week’s High Court decision: ‘Many bus drivers do not live near their depots. They go to work before the service starts. This will cost many of them £12.50 a day. Their pay won’t increase to cover it. Those on the late shift will face having to pay a double charge if they do not leave the zone before midnight.’
He said: ‘Yesterday’s [May 26] victory is massive. It shows that the Fearless Five councils are willing to stand up against Sadiq Khan. We will continue fighting until the end.’
Cllr Fawthrop warned Mr Khan that Bromley has been successful in fighting city hall.
‘When Ken Livingstone was running the GLC, Bromley defeated him over his Fares Fair policy.
‘Bromley will win again. I have a challenge for Mr Khan. If he is so confident about ULEZ’s popularity. Delay it until after the next mayoral election and let the people decide.’
Pictured are anti-ULEZ protesters outside London Bridge station. A judicial review case has been launched against the scheme
Demonstrators are holding banners expressing their hatred for the £12.50-a-day plan
The council members are not the only group to warn of the unintended consequences of the low emission zone expansion.
Campaigners from The Women’s Equality Party said the expansion would mean many women living in outer London would have ‘their access to transport restricted in the middle of a cost of living crisis’.
A 200-page impact report on the ULEZ expansion, carried out by technical services firm Jacobs, showed women faced being hit hardest by new charges,
Read more: Interactive map reveals Britain’s speeding hotspots as campaigners blame rise in convictions on 20mph zones… are you at risk of a fine?
It warned it would have a ‘disproportionate impact on women taking children to school in outer London’ who drive a vehicle that would cause the ULEZ fee, as they have fewer public transport options available than inner London.
The report also claimed women were three times as likely to do the school drop-off in London compared to men.
The report said: ‘As a result, if they cannot afford to upgrade their vehicles more women may be forced to pay the charge or use alternative modes of travel that may be far less convenient for multiple destinations’.
The daily ULEZ charge is currently £12.50 for cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes).
Drivers who do not pay a ULEZ charge could be at risk of receiving a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
The ULEZ will be expanding in an attempt to improve air quality across the city, following its initial introduction in 2019.
From August 29, petrol cars which do not reach the Euro IV standard or diesels which are not Euro VI compliant will be subject to a £12.50-a-day charge – unless they are deemed classic vehicles.
However, supercars spewing out up to 380g of CO2 per kilometre will be welcomed into the low pollution zone.
To prepare for the ULEZ expansion, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a £110million scrappage scheme, whereby Londoners will be given financial assistance when scrapping vehicles with high pollution levels.
The ULEZ car and motorcycle scrappage scheme applies to Londoners on certain low income or disability benefits with cars, motorcycles and wheelchair accessible vehicles that do not meet the ULEZ emissions standard.
There is also a van and minibus scrappage scheme is for sole traders, micro businesses or charities with a registered address in London. This allows anyone eligible to scrap or retrofit a van or minibus that does not meet the ULEZ emissions standard.
MailOnline has contacted London Mayor’s office for comment.
The FULL list of schools that will be affected
Outside the ULEZ border:
- Tatsfield – Tatsfield Primary School
- New Addington – Meridian High School
- New Addington – Faircildes Primary School
- Croydon – Croydon High School
- Warlingham – Warlingham School and Sixth Form
- Warlingham – Hamsey Green Primary School
- Whyteleafe – Whiteleafe School
- Coulsdon – Oasis Academy Coulsdon
- Coulsdon – Coulsdon C of E Primary School
- Coulsdon – Smitham Primary School and Nursery
- Coulsdon – Chipstead Valley Primary School
- Banstead – Woodmasterne Primary School and Nursery
- Banstead – Banstead Preparatory School
- Cheam – Cuddington Croft Primary School
- Sutton – Nonsuch High School for Girls
- Epsom – Meadow Primary School
- Epsom – Nonsuch Primary School
- Cheam – Cheam Common Junior Academy
- Epsom – West Ewell Primary School
- Ewell – Epsom and Ewell High School
- Surbiton – Shrewsbury House School
- Thames Ditton – Thames Ditton Infant School
- East Molesey – St Lawrence C of E (A) Junior School
- Sunbury-on-Thames – Kenyngton Manor Primary School
- Middlesex – The Echelford Primary School
- Stanwell – Stanwell Fields C of E Primary School
Inside the ULEZ border:
- Biggin Hill – Charles Darwin School
- Biggin Hill – Oaklands Primary Academy
- New Addington – Rowdown Primary School
- Addington – Courtwood Primary School
- South Croydon – Selsdon Primary School
- South Croydon – Atwood Primary School
- Whyteleafe – Kenley Primary School
- Coulsdon – Keston Primary School
- Coulsdon – Woodcote Primary School
- Coulsdon – Woodcote High School
- Purley – New Valley Primary School
- Sutton – Seaton High School
- Sutton – Avenue Primary Academy
- Sutton – Harris Academy Sutton
- Sutton – Overton Grange
- Sutton – Homefield Preparatory School
- Cheam – Cheam Fields Primary Academy
- Cheam – Cheam High School
- Worcester Park – Dorchester Primary School
- New Maldon – Coombe Boys’ School
- Surbiton – Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School
- Chessington – Castle Hill Primary School
- Chessington – St Mary’s Church of England Primary School
- Chessington – Lovelace Primary School
- Chessington – St Paul’s Church of England Primary School
- Surbiton – Tolworth Girls’ School and Sixth Form
- Surbiton – Tolworth Junior School
- Hampton – Twickenham Prep School
- Hampton – Hampton Junior School
- Hampton – St Mary’s Hampton CE Primary School
- Hanworth – Lindon Bennett School
- Feltham – Oak Hill Academy
- Feltham – Feltham Hill Infant and Nursery School
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