I can’t afford to work in London anymore as ULEZ charges cost me £150 a week

A SCAFFOLDER has stopped working in central London due to the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ), which would cost his business £150 a week.

Business owner David Hammond, based in Romford, east London, said his company is declining jobs within the new zone.

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ULEZ was expanded last month to include the large section of the capital that is situated within the North and South Circular roads.

If you don't have a low emissions car you have to pay £12.50 a day to drive within the zone.

Mr Hammond said: "Both of our work trucks that we use to carry our material daily, are apparently far too old to enter inside the ULEZ for free, so we will be charged £25 a day.

"In total it’ll be £150 a week, if we go on a six-day working basis."

He told that he has turned down jobs in the ULEZ because the charges will wipe out his profits.

Around 70% of the family-owned business's customers live or operate within the zone, and much of his work in those areas involved green adaptations like solar panels and insulation.

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He described the charge as a "stealth tax", adding: "It’s not about saving lives, but more about making money from people who are actually making a difference.

“In theory that sort of money could greatly help us buy newer trucks and go greener, which would be great for London as a whole."

ULEZ initially covered the Congestion Charge zone in central London, from the eastern edge of Hyde Park out to around Aldgate.

But from October 25, it has expanded to cover all parts of London within the North and South Circular roads.

It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 364 days a year - excluding Christmas Day.

Older vehicles, including motorbikes, that don’t meet the tighter emissions standards have to pay £12.50 every day they are used within the ULEZ.

The vehicles affected include pre-2015 diesels and pre-2006 petrol cars - but you can 

Transport for London has said 135,000 cars and vans a day currently driving in the new zone are old enough to be hit by the charge.

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