The fight against the new outer London ULEZ (ultra-low-emission zone) scheme has begun with the people of Bromley making the headlines. With a charge of £12.50 per day for anyone with a non-qualifying car, disgruntled people have commenced the battle against the London Mayors plans. Drivers who fail to pay and are caught face a £180 penalty, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
Four cameras in Bromley were painted red within the first few days of ULEZ commencing, in a backlash against the scheme.
A group called the ‘Bromley Blade Runners’ (BBR) has also started their work in the shadows of the night to disrupt the ULEZ. Bromley has become the ‘epicentre’ of the ULEZ battle, with over 100 ULEZ devices cut off by ‘Bromley Blade Runners’.
With 90% of cameras ‘out of order’ in Bromley, there seems to be no let up from the group. who claim that their membership numbers have trebled, since the ULEZ Expansion was enforced on the 29th of August 2023.
Whilst the Bromley Blade Runners may be the heroes of the poor, they are seen by law-abiding citizens as vandals, who are imposing costs on all council tax payers.
Across London, more than 380 have been targeted, with the Met Police reporting 185 destroyed cables, 164 stolen cameras, and 38 obscured.
In the near future these camera could be upgraded to track per mile journeys, then everyone will pay regardless
Mayor Sadiq Khan has resisted pressure from charities, Labour-supporting union bosses and even Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer to delay or ditch altogether the expansion during the cost-of-living crisis.
Conservative-led councils in Kent, Surrey, Essex, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Thurrock all refused to come to an agreement with Mr Khan to allow signs detailing ULEZ charges to be installed on the capital’s boundary roads.
Several councils have insisted that they would only change their stance, if the Mayor extended the scrappage scheme, which helps cover the cost of buying a compliant vehicle, to their residents. There has been no comment from the London Mayor or Transport for London so far.
