Latest news with #Ulez
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Telegraph style book: Uu
U UK: Do not use it to mean Great Britain Ulez: Ultra Low Emission Zone. No need to spell out Ulysses UN: Spell out United Nations at first mention in text UNHCR: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees under way, not underway Underground is capped when describing the London transport system unforeseeable unfrocked: not defrocked Union: When describing Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it should be capped Union Jack: Properly, this is for the flag's naval use only (when flown from a jackstaff). In all other contexts the Union Flag unique: If you do use it remember that it cannot be qualified United Kingdom: this refers to the nation formed by England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. England, Scotland and Wales form Great Britain. Great Britain and the island of Ireland form the British Isles United Reformed Church: Not Reform United States, then US. Avoid using America when referring to the country. Unknown Warrior: It is he, and not the Unknown Soldier, who lies in Westminster Abbey unprecedented: See unique unself-conscious Uyghur not Uighur
Telegraph
10-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Khan's Ulez hollows out London as empty shops hit decade high
Store closures across London have hit a 10-year high following Sir Sadiq Khan's expansion of the ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez). According to new figures from property analysts firm CoStar, the vacancy rate for shops across all London boroughs soared to 6.2pc this year, compared to 1.9pc in areas immediately outside of the capital. The figures reflect the impact of the Ulez on high streets, particularly after the Mayor of London expanded the charge to cover the whole of the capital two years ago. CoStar's researchers said that while the effects of the pandemic have increased retail vacancy rates across the country, the increases elsewhere were 'more moderate' than those in the capital. Store closures have been proven to be a particular problem in outer London. For example, the number of empty shops in Bromley has more than doubled to more than 20 since July last year, figures show. Retail parks within the Ulez zone are also battling vacancy rates of 4.2pc, CoStar found, compared to 0.2pc for those in unaffected areas. This has been fuelled by a drop in leasing demand, as retailers fear reduced footfall caused by Ulez, which charges drivers whose vehicles do not comply with emissions standards £12.50 a day. Shrinking demand for retail space Thomas Turrell, the Conservative London Assembly member for Bexley and Bromley, said: 'The Conservatives warned the Mayor quite clearly that the ULEZ expansion would have unforeseen impacts on the way people in outer London live and work – and as we see now in the data, one of those consequences is the high street. 'Local economies are struggling already as a result of the Labour Government's catastrophic jobs tax, and the Mayor whacking ULEZ on top is only exacerbating that. High streets are at the heart of our local economies, and I want to see work done to save them before it is too late. 'Sadiq Khan and Labour just don't get Greater London, the ill-advised expansion of ULEZ to Outer London was a clear example of this. Patrick Scanlon, senior director of market analytics at CoStar, said the group's findings signalled that the expanded policy has shrunk demand for retail space. He said that the negative impact of Ulez could potentially be a 'short-term problem' because more drivers will gradually trade their old vehicles for newer ones. However, Mr Scanlon warned that high vacancy rates could have a serious effect on investment. He said: 'The question is how much more vacancy we're going to see because of the Ulez expansion. Investors will tend not to want to buy into areas with systemic high vacancy, so there are implications. Attracting investors might become difficult.' A spokesman for the Mayor of London said that TfL and the GLA's report found the Ulez expansion 'has not impacted footfall or retail and leisure spending in either outer London or London as a whole'. She also pointed to research from the Centre for Cities, the think tank, which concluded that the expansion has not reduced demand for high street goods and services. The spokesman said: 'Recent data shows that Ulez works, driving down levels of pollution and bringing cleaner air to all Londoners. 'With 97.1pc of vehicles seen driving in London now Ulez compliant, the data also shows that Londoners have continued to upgrade their vehicles to cleaner models.'
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bexley village businesses blame Ulez expansion for falling trade
Businesses in south-east London say the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) has led to a fall in obtained by the BBC show more than 400,000 drivers in Kent, Surrey and Sussex have been fined for not paying the £12.50 daily charge for older, more polluting vehicles since it expanded in August Melucci, who runs an Italian deli in Bexley village, said: "All the businesses in the area are suffering, every single one of them, and some are closing down because of it."Transport for London (TfL) has made £237m from fines and charges since the start of 2024 but says Ulez is not about making money, and any income generated is reinvested back into the network. In February, it was revealed that London's drivers had paid more than £70m in penalty charge notices from Ulez in six Melucci, who set up Melucci's in 2005, said: "Customers used to come regularly every single week. "Now they come maybe once a year, once every six months, because coming into Ulez becomes less and less attractive."If you're a customer coming from Dartford in Kent and you have the choice of coming to Bexley and spending £12.50 plus the car parking charges, which is nearly £15, to buy a cup of coffee, or you can go to Bluewater with free car parking and no Ulez, what would you do?"It's a no-brainer." Nitrogen dioxide levels in outer London fell nearly 5% in the year after expansion, City Hall figures Hartshorn from Mums for Lungs, which campaigns for cleaner air, said children are worst affected by toxic air and that diesel vehicles "need to be phased out".She said: "The starting point for pollution in that area of London was so incredibly high that, even with this, we are all still breathing air that is toxic, and that stunts children's lungs, that exacerbates asthma." Christina Calderato, TfL's director of strategy, said: "The Ulez expanded London-wide to tackle the triple challenges of air pollution, the climate emergency and traffic congestion, bringing cleaner air to five million more Londoners. "Visitor footfall in outer London increased by almost 2% in the year after the London-wide Ulez expansion."The Ulez is not about making money. The expanded Ulez has led to cleaner air while generating ever smaller net revenues, as has been the case with the previous expansion to inner London where people switched to greener vehicles."Any income generated from the Ulez is being reinvested back into the public transport network, including improving bus routes in outer London."
The Independent
02-07-2025
- The Independent
Eight arrested over conspiracy to destroy Ulez cameras
Eight people have been arrested over an alleged conspiracy to destroy Ulez cameras, the Metropolitan Police said. A co-ordinated operation conducted by the force has seen six men and two women arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage. One of the men is also alleged to have been involved in threatening and harassing the team sent to repair a damaged camera. The Met made the arrests at addresses in London, Windsor and on the Isle of Sheppey in the early hours of Wednesday. The London arrests took place in Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northwood, Sutton and Eltham. Those arrested remain in custody. Searches are ongoing at the addresses but officers say they have already recovered items related to the alleged offending. Superintendent Paul Thomas, of the Met's Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: 'There is a big difference between lawful protest and plotting to destroy or seriously damage property. 'Some may think of this sort of behaviour as a victimless crime, but when cameras are damaged or destroyed it creates dangerous hazards, risking collisions on the road in addition to disruption for motorists and residents. 'We take these offences very seriously and officers will continue working closely with Transport for London and other partners to identify and build a case against those responsible. 'Today's arrests are a significant development in what has been a long and complex investigation that is not yet over. 'I would appeal to anyone who has information about plans to target Ulez cameras to come forward.'
The Independent
02-07-2025
- The Independent
Eight arrested over conspiracy to destroy London's Ulez cameras
Eight people have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police in connection with an alleged conspiracy to destroy Ulez cameras. The arrests, which include six men and two women, followed a co-ordinated operation by the force. All eight individuals are suspected of conspiracy to commit criminal damage. One of the men is also alleged to have been involved in threatening and harassing a team sent to repair a damaged camera. The Met made the arrests at addresses in London, Windsor and on the Isle of Sheppey in the early hours of Wednesday. The London arrests took place in Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northwood, Sutton and Eltham. Those arrested remain in custody. Searches are ongoing at the addresses but officers say they have already recovered items related to the alleged offending. Superintendent Paul Thomas, of the Met's Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: 'There is a big difference between lawful protest and plotting to destroy or seriously damage property. 'Some may think of this sort of behaviour as a victimless crime, but when cameras are damaged or destroyed it creates dangerous hazards, risking collisions on the road in addition to disruption for motorists and residents. 'We take these offences very seriously and officers will continue working closely with Transport for London and other partners to identify and build a case against those responsible. 'Today's arrests are a significant development in what has been a long and complex investigation that is not yet over. 'I would appeal to anyone who has information about plans to target Ulez cameras to come forward.'
