In her latest ULEZ update to constituents, Julia Lopez MP has advised of her latest representations to Government regarding the policy and has shared details of the Mayor of London's inadequate proposals to amend the bus service to mitigate against the £12.50 daily tax.
Continuing in her efforts to oppose the Mayor's ULEZ expansion, Julia has written to both the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove MP, and the Secretary for Transport, Mark Harper MP, to share constituents' concerns at the Mayor's powers and potential future road-charging schemes.
In recent weeks, many constituents have signed petitions calling for the abolition of the Mayor of London or the amendment of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 to remove the Mayor’s powers to impose road charges. While previously being advised that the Government does not retain powers to intervene to prevent the Mayor from expanding the ULEZ, Julia has written to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to seek further guidance on the Government’s interpretation of the situation and the viability and timing of any legislative changes.
Julia Lopez MP has long held concerns that, once operational, the Mayor may move the goal posts and bring more vehicles within the scope of the ULEZ and these concerns were increased by recent comments that TfL is considering the introduction of a ‘pay as you drive’ road charging scheme within London. Julia has therefore contacted the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, to request any advice he may offer of the Department’s view on this issue and of the Mayor’s ability to introduce such a charging scheme.
Copies of both of Julia's letters to Ministers are attached below this article.
Central to Julia's arguments against the ULEZ is that the public transport network in Havering is inadequate to be a viable alternative to a private vehicle in Havering. The Mayor has pledged 400,000km of new bus routes in outer-London to mitigate against the ULEZ and has this week set out his proposals for local changes. As expected, these amendments are totally insufficient for the level of investment required genuinely to support a shift to public transport in Havering. Locally, the changes consist of the expansion of the existing 497 route such that it continues from its current route of Dagnam Park Square to Harold Wood Station and on to Upminster Station via Moor Lane and St. Mary’s Lane. Alongside this, the existing 346 route (Upminster Park to Upminster Station) and the 347 route (Romford Station to Ockendon Station) would be withdrawn.
While Julia welcomes the extension of the 497 route, it is telling that the Mayor’s investment in ‘new’ bus services in Havering is limited to the consolidation of routes, requiring the removal of two. These changes will remove bus services between Ockendon Road and Clay Tye Road. The Mayor’s own analysis shows that older people will be adversely impacted by longer waits, they may require additional interchanges by the removal of the 347 route and may be required to use an unlit alleyway to access bus routes. Clearly, this does not represent an overall improvement to bus services in Havering and certainly not one that allows people to forgo the use of their car.
Julia Lopez MP is therefore asking all constituents who are concerned about this to give feedback on the Mayor’s proposals at: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/bus-routes-346-347-497
Constituents are encouraged to provide copies of their feedback to Julia who is compiling a register of constituents' comments for inclusion within her own formal submission.
