Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers has staged a protest against the London Mayor’s plan to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)) across Greater London.
Theresa and around 50 protestors went to the A1000 Great North Road in New Barnet for the demonstration on Saturday.
The event was originally intended to be fairly low key and small with only 15 or so expected to attend. But word got out on social media and many more turned up.
The group waved placards at passing traffic, right next to a new set of ULEZ cameras.
Many of passing drivers beeped their horns in support.
“We have just a few more months left to get the Mayor to stop this scheme that will do little to improve the capital’s air quality but leave motorists and businesses having to fork out £12.50 a day to go about their daily lives,” said Theresa.
“The level of opposition to ULEZ is huge in Barnet and elsewhere, and it’s growing daily as the deadline of 29th August approaches when this scheme is extended across all London boroughs. I thank everyone who came to protest with me at the weekend.
“It is wrong to hammer motorists when they have no choice but to use their vehicles in places like Barnet that simply do not have sufficient public transport alternatives.
“Those who live outside of Greater London and have to drive in for work will also have to pay this levy in a classic case of taxation without representation.”
The former Environment Secretary recently introduced a Ten-Minute Rule Bill to Parliament to give the Transport Secretary powers to overturn the London Mayor’s (ULEZ) expansion.
The Bill seeks to amend the Greater London Authority Act 1999 so Mark Harper can review and overturn decisions made by the Mayor relating to transport and to air quality.
