14 replies to this topic

[Its a min]

So the mayor of London has opened consultations for the earlier introduction, and ultimately the expansion, of the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ).

 

https://consultation...tation-phase-2/

 

It looks like the powers that be wish to rid the streets of London of classic cars such as our beloved minis. There have also been murmurs that other city's may adopt this too.

 

I love the hard sell that by bringing it forward by 17 months, they will drastically reduce pollution but fail to mention the additional revenue it will bring in or the extra financial burden it will put on those already struggling to survive.

 

Can I ask, if you have five minutes to spare, that you support us who live in London and are fortunate to own a British classic (or any other iconic car) by completing the consultation?

 

Many thanks.

[Mito]

Have they removed the exemption for historic vehicles which was in line with the rolling tax exemption?

[Ethel]

Says all exemptions remain the same.

[r3k1355]

The PM has made comments that while pollution taxes are coming there will be something done for all the drivers of Diesels who effectively followed government policy and now own a polluting car.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk...litics-39499331

 

 

An ultra low emission zone will come into force in London in April 2019, with a £24 a day fee for some drivers.

 

Owners of diesel cars - who were encouraged by previous governments to buy them as they were thought to be more economical and less harmful in terms of carbon dioxide emissions - have expressed anger and confusion at the move.

 

In 2015, Labour's former Science Minister Lord Drayson said Tony Blair's government made a mistake in promoting diesel cars are they were now "killing people".

Motoring organisations have said diesel car drivers are being "punished" for following a previous government's policy.

 

Speaking on her trip to Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Mrs May said:

 

"I'm very conscious of the fact that past governments have encouraged people to buy diesel cars and we need to take that into account when we look at what we do in the future."

Edited by r3k1355, 05 April 2017 - 10:59 AM.

[Big Sam]

Makes sense. London is bloody toxic, im ill whenever I go, i can taste the pollution as soon as i get off the train.

 

What irks me is that it will affect wheelchair accessible vehicles, we have one, its diesel. These are usually a van-derived car, rarely are they petrol. The ones that are petrol are Fiat or Peugeot, generally, these aren't fit for purpose, the torque output is low and does not cope with the increased weight of the ramps, the modifications and the wheelchair itself.

 

Public transport is not an option for someone in a wheelchair, even thought it is better in London.

 

I don't see car companies stepping up to help. In a minor sense its a tax on disability.

[Cooperman]

They are talking about making diesel drivers pay around £12 to drive into Cambridge. I live near Cambridge and we go there for shopping and to eat, but if this happens I'll simply spend my money elsewhere where I won't be penalised for having a diesel car.

[r3k1355]

Cambridge has been talking about that one for ages, mostly because they want to copy London with everything.

Chances are it will happen though, traffic is pretty bad in the city.

 

Traffic is bad because the council are useless ******* and have done *******-all with the road network and screwed up royally with public transport.

That ******* guided bus cost over 150 million quid, what a ******* joke!!

[Cooperman]

For what the 'Busted Guideway' (sorry, Guided Busway') cost they could have built a good tramway which would have been more sensible.

[r3k1355]

IIRC there was a campaign group pushing for some kind of rail/tram system.

 

They were banding around numbers under £100m, significantly cheaper than the mess the bus cost.

 

Here it is, Cast.Iron http://www.castiron.org.uk/

Edited by r3k1355, 12 April 2017 - 02:07 PM.

[Cooperman]

Yes indeed, the track bed and some rails were already there as were the level crossings and a link into the main line for Cambridge station. It would have been simple to lay tram lines/light rail lines into the Town Centre from the rail station with a link to Addenbrookes Hospital and a damn site cheaper than the busway, which is in disrepair with arguing as to who has the fiscal responsibility for fixing it.

[greenmini1275]

If this does happen, every company based in cities centres is going to move out. Cities will become ghost towns and the cities will die. Big shops will close because it will cost too much to deliver goods and workmen will have to hike up their prices for working in cities. The benefit to pollution controls will pale in comparison to the financial and political disaster it will be.

Besides Siddiq Khan is a ******* *****

[r3k1355]

It'll push up the cost of living in a city, which will prompt more people to move further out.

 

They'll then need to buy a car, or another car for their partner, which in turn will increase pollution. 

[lordyoung1980]

If they cared so much about air pollution they would ban cars altogether....but no...they just charge you. Mother Nature must be rolling in it with all the money governments pay her. I see now there are government 'experts' saying that pollution also comes from cars tyres and brakes. No doubt getting us programmed into getting taxed in the future on tyres and brake sizes when there are fewer fuel burning cars around.

[Cooperman]

And yet councils put in place so-called 'traffic calming' measures which include 'road-humps' which require slowing down, changing down, the accelerating away, all of which causes more pollution. They also have 'pinch points' where traffic must stop to allow vehicles with priority from the other direction. I recently sat in a queue of 8 vehicles including a bus and two diesel vans, plus my diesel car, all waiting until we could start off again as the oncoming traffic cleared. This despite the fact that the road ahead was clear apart from the artificial obstruction.

 

And the same idiots as approved these schemes talk about reducing pollution.

[Black.Ghost]

I've spent a few days in Bucaramanga, Colombia. I love the City, but London is crystal clear in comparison. The buses are really old and polluting, and the bikes reek of fuel.

Cleaning up cities is a good thing, but there will be a lot of other unseen costs to it.