The Mayor of London is accused of 'not listening' about Ulez concerns

See Sadiq, that’s how it’s done! The Mayor of London is accused of ‘not listening’ about Ulez concerns from motorists after Labour-run Cambridge ditches its plans to charge drivers due to the cost-of-living crisis

• Car owners were facing £5-a-day congestion charge in Cambridge at peak times
• Read: ‘Thousands’ of protesters rally in Cambridge to oppose congestion charge

Sadiq Khan was accused of ‘not listening’ to hard-up motorists’ concerns about Ulez today after controversial plans to charge drivers in Cambridge were scrapped by its Labour council because of the cost-of-living crisis.

Car owners were facing a £5-a-day congestion charge in the city at peak times, even if they lived just within the boundary and were heading out of the city. Vans were set to pay £10 and lorries or coaches £50.

But the scheme was ditched yesterday after the Labour group voted to withdraw support for the proposals, saying it was worried about the ‘impact on low-income families’.

The decision raises fresh questions about London Mayor Mr Khan’s refusal to back down on expanding his £12.50-a-day Ultra Low Emissions Zone throughout the capital on August 29, despite fierce opposition.

Sadiq Khan (pictured) was accused of ‘not listening’ to hard-up motorists’ concerns about Ulez today after controversial plans to charge drivers in Cambridge were scrapped by its Labour council because of the cost-of-living crisis

Car owners were facing a £5-a-day congestion charge in the city (pictured) at peak times

Anti-Ulez activist Howard Cox, founder of FairFuel UK and Reform UK’s London mayoral candidate, said: ‘Cambridge has listened, something that Sadiq Khan is incapable of doing.

‘A Labour authority recognises now is not the time to hit struggling families and businesses in the pocket.

‘In complete contrast, London’s Labour mayor cares little for low-income drivers and will do everything to screw as much as possible from them.’

The Cambridge charge was expected to raise around £26 million a year which would be used towards expanding the local bus network.

But Mike Davey, the Labour leader of the council, yesterday admitted his group had been split, with some opposing parts of the proposals.

He added the ‘rug was pulled’ after the Lib Dems, who also lead a coalition on the county council, said they had ‘further concerns’.

Asked how ‘dead’ the plans were, Mr Davey said: ‘They are not going to go ahead. There were bits we liked and bits we remained concerned about.

A protester held a sign saying No to The CC, criticising the proposed congestion charge, as demonstrators gathered on Parkers Piece on February 26, 2023 in Cambridge 

‘Sustainable travel has not gone away – something is going to happen. Something will have to go ahead because we have a problem with congestion in this city, which is only going to get worse.’

The Cambridge congestion charge was originally planned to operate between 7am and 7pm on weekdays but was revised to 7am to 10am and 3pm to 8pm after a consultation found 58 per cent were opposed.

But the concessions were not enough to prevent widespread fury, and was credited with leading to the recent by-election victory of the city’s first Conservative councillor since 2012.

READ MORE: ‘Thousands’ of protesters rally in Cambridge to oppose £5 congestion charge

The Greater Cambridge Partnership – a body comprised of local authorities – drew up the proposals, but Cambridgeshire County Council’s agreement was needed to implement them.

A Lib Dem source said earlier this week that ‘political heat around these issues in the run up to the General Election was not going to make things easier’.

A warning was sounded in London in July when Tory candidate Steve Tuckwell clung on to Boris Johnson’s former Uxbridge seat in a by-election as voters made their feelings known about Ulez.

Speaking at the time, he said: ‘It was his [Mr Khan’s] damaging and costly Ulez policy that lost them this election.’

Mr Khan has introduced a scrappage scheme for affected motorists but many have complained the £2,000 offered is not enough to cover the cost of a newer, compliant model.

The scrappage scheme is also not available to drivers in the Home Counties living near the outer London border who have to cross it for work or leisure.

Mr Khan’s office was contacted for a comment.

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