Anti-Ulez activists disrupted Sadiq Khan’s Bank Holiday weekend by parking a caravan adorned with personal attacks near his home.
The protest targets London’s new low emission zones (Ulez).
The mobile home, humorously referred to as a ‘Khan-ovan of hate,’ was strategically placed close to Mayor Khan’s Tooting residence.
The caravan was covered in messages labeling the Mayor as the ‘dictator of London.’
One image depicted Sadiq Khan accompanied by the phrase, ‘Pay me £12.50 and you can pollute for 24 hours,’ along with multiple calls to ‘sack Khan.’
Starting tomorrow, the new Ulez expansion will impose a £12.50 daily charge on individuals driving older, more polluting vehicles into the capital.
The expansion has faced substantial opposition, with many people expressing their dissatisfaction.
A local resident who spotted the caravan described how the Ulez expansion has ignited anger in the area.
The resident stated, ‘I saw the van this morning driving up towards the common.
I burst out laughing I had to get a picture of it.’
The sudden appearance of cameras related to the Ulez has escalated local discontent.
Some individuals feel that the new zones will significantly impact their lives, particularly those unable to afford fines or purchase new vehicles.
Several Ulez protesters shared images of the caravan on a Facebook group named Action Against Unfair Ulez, expressing support for the demonstration.
One commenter commended the action, while another proudly mentioned driving past the caravan in a non-Ulez compliant vehicle.
It remains unclear whether members of Action Against Unfair Ulez were responsible for the caravan protest.
Despite resistance, the Greater London Authority insists that the majority of vehicles already meet Ulez standards, encompassing approximately 90% of cars and 80% of vans.
These standards apply to petrol vehicles from 2006 and diesel vehicles from 2016.
Nevertheless, local opposition to the scheme has led to the vandalization of Ulez cameras, particularly in outer boroughs. ‘Blade runners,’ groups known for cutting camera cables or obscuring lenses with ‘FCUK KHAN’ stickers, have targeted newly installed cameras.
An analysis of crowd-sourced data indicates that nearly 90% of Ulez cameras in southeast London have been vandalized.
Despite this, Transport for London (TfL) maintains that the Ulez changes will proceed as planned, with damaged cameras to be repaired or replaced.
TfL confirms that over 1,900 cameras are installed in outer London.
Nick Freeman, a prominent motoring lawyer nicknamed ‘Mr. Loophole,’ has advised that drivers entering newly expanded Ulez zones without encountering warning signs could challenge their fines.
Freeman, renowned for representing high-profile figures in driving offense cases, suggests that fines might be invalid in the absence of clear signage.
The situation is further complicated by the refusal of six out of seven local authorities bordering London to sign an agreement with TfL for Ulez signs within their jurisdictions.
These councils, led by the Conservative Party, have highlighted the financial burden the Ulez will impose on their residents.
The only council to sign the agreement, Slough Borough Council, shares the smallest border with London and has only two signs installed.
Both Freeman and Edmund King, president of the Automobile Association, point out the potential for driver complaints and appeals due to unclear signage.
King predicts that TfL could be inundated with complaints if warnings are not adequately provided.
TfL counters by stating that all necessary signs for scheme enforcement will be in place, and residents will be clearly informed of boundaries and standards.
The organization emphasizes that non-compliant drivers will be subject to charges, with penalties for non-payment.
National Highways, responsible for major roads into the capital, collaborated to ensure drivers receive advance notice of the expanded Ulez.
A comprehensive communications campaign has also been conducted to enhance public awareness of the scheme.
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