Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

ULEZ rant

128 replies

CapturedLeprechaun · 31/08/2023 11:44

I live outside the ULEZ zone, but work as a social worker in a london Borough that falls inside the new expansion zone.

My car is not ULEZ compliant (2006 plate diesel) but runs perfectly fine. I use my car for work purposes for visits to homes and schools, and can claim back 45p per mile on expenses.

My borough has said they will not be allowing ULEZ charges to be claimed on expenses, but will instead provide a bus pass for those that need it. I have worked out the journey time for an average week, and I'll spend approx 6+ hours more a week making my visits by bus than I would by car.

It's so frustrating- that's basically almost a whole day extra a week I'll "lose" in working hours sitting on a bus, yet I'll have the same amount of work to get through. It just seems so shortsighted, and I'm so annoyed. I explained this to HR, and said that if they paid the ULEZ charge for one or two days a week, I could do all my weekly visits on those days and wouldn't lose any working hours sitting idly on a bus, and it makes more financial sense to the council than to have a social worker being unproductive for 6+ hours a week. They're not budging.

So bloody frustrating.

OP posts:
Palmasailor · 01/09/2023 03:05

I reckon it could be constructive dismissal. Worth a shot anyway. Probably see if you can get some legal advice. I bet there are a lot more like you.

Jackienory · 01/09/2023 03:36

It’ll be interesting to see how long this , and Mayor Khan, are going to last ?.

IsGoodIsDon · 01/09/2023 04:20

I feel your pain. I hate the way ULEZ has been brought in. The first expansion gave residents 2 years notice, we got 9 months. Used cars have over inflated in price. We had to sell our perfectly running car for nothing and to find the one we have bought to replace it has got random engine light errors. I’m so angry at Mr Khan and despite always being a labour voter my whole life will be voting Tory in the next mayor elections.

Thewrongdress · 01/09/2023 04:39

He is mayor of London, not an MP. What difference will voting Tory make? I sympathise with your position re your car, but don't understand your rationale.

clarebear111 · 01/09/2023 04:45

So sorry for this needless waste OP. Between this and things like LTNs, it’s a miracle any carers are able to make their jobs. These one size fits all initiatives have caused a lot of damage, and concentrated the benefits extremely narrowly in the case of LTNs.

LakeTiticaca · 01/09/2023 07:14

The people of London voted him in so you reap what you sow I'm afraid. He was a twat before ULEZ and he's a twat still

Overthebow · 01/09/2023 07:18

Surely this is a work problem? Work need to either pay your ULEZ charges or reduce your workload by. 6 hours a week to fit in with the travel time by bus to clients.

VeloVixen · 01/09/2023 07:20

Just work your hours and do what you can do, do not work extra hours. If your work doesn’t get done it doesn’t get done, you need to make this your bosses problem, not your problem.

viviscool · 01/09/2023 07:21

time for Khan to go. It's a horrendous scheme. So badly thought out. He's been an awful incompetent Mayor.

msbevvy · 01/09/2023 07:31

IsGoodIsDon · 01/09/2023 04:20

I feel your pain. I hate the way ULEZ has been brought in. The first expansion gave residents 2 years notice, we got 9 months. Used cars have over inflated in price. We had to sell our perfectly running car for nothing and to find the one we have bought to replace it has got random engine light errors. I’m so angry at Mr Khan and despite always being a labour voter my whole life will be voting Tory in the next mayor elections.

Why would you do that?

It was a Tory Mayor (Johnson) that came up with the scheme in the first place and a Tory government that has forced the expansion as a condition of bailing out TFL after the pandemic.

I hate the way the Tories seem to be gaining from people blaming Khan for things that he isn't responsible for.

littleducks · 01/09/2023 07:32

The proposed ulez expansion info was all online in 2021 when I changed my car and I think was delayed in fact due to COVID.

That said I locumed somewhere with bus pass strategy instead and it was really good....I miss it. Even though I have to carry some equipment. You get down time between visits to think and get your steps in, I felt much happier and healthier than always trying to cram in extra or doing teams meetings from my car etc. I wouldn't have predicted that....I would suggest you try the bus pass thing and don't take on extra hours. It might surprise you, I honestly was expecting it to be a right faff.

Hardbackwriter · 01/09/2023 07:36

If you think about what ULEZ is actually trying to achieve, though, it makes sense that your work won't pay it - they'd be a public body paying money to keep contributing to air pollution.

Castall · 01/09/2023 07:37

@CapturedLeprechaun

its a good programme as we all need to drive less fly less use less

the fees should have been brought in more slowly though and I feel for you.

can you park outside the zone then use the bus?

RockaLock · 01/09/2023 07:48

littleducks · 01/09/2023 07:32

The proposed ulez expansion info was all online in 2021 when I changed my car and I think was delayed in fact due to COVID.

That said I locumed somewhere with bus pass strategy instead and it was really good....I miss it. Even though I have to carry some equipment. You get down time between visits to think and get your steps in, I felt much happier and healthier than always trying to cram in extra or doing teams meetings from my car etc. I wouldn't have predicted that....I would suggest you try the bus pass thing and don't take on extra hours. It might surprise you, I honestly was expecting it to be a right faff.

No, it wasn't. I wish people would stop saying this, it's completely wrong.

The 2021 expansion was only to the the north and south circular roads. And in fact, Khan was asked whether he had plans to expand the ULEZ to the whole of Greater London, and in July 2021 his answer was an emphatic no, he had no plans to do that.

But less than a year later, in March 2022, the consultation into the expansion was announced. The expansion was only confirmed in Nov 2022, giving people less than a year to sort themselves out.

Then, because there were legal challenges to the expansion, of course people didn't want to spend thousands on new cars straightaway if they weren't going to need to after all. The final court decision to allow the expansion was only on 28 July 2023, which gave everyone a whole month until 29 Aug Hmm

The whole thing has been shambolic.

gullup · 01/09/2023 08:02

I'm a regular bus user in London and would feel frustrated at being limited to buses. The journey times are often longer than the Google Maps estimates, they are always terminating randomly or stopping mid route to change drivers or even out the service. It will end up being longer than 6 hours. Aren't they offering the option of tubes? They are generally far quicker.

Blueroses99 · 01/09/2023 08:11

Thewrongdress · 01/09/2023 04:39

He is mayor of London, not an MP. What difference will voting Tory make? I sympathise with your position re your car, but don't understand your rationale.

Khan was the Labour candidate in the mayoral elections. He ran alongside Tory and Lib Dem candidates and independents. OP does say she would vote Tory in the mayoral elections, not general elections (for MPs).

If I recall correctly the first mayoral election in 2000, Ken Livingstone was an independent candidate but when he stood at the next election, he was Labour.

Blueroses99 · 01/09/2023 08:13

gullup · 01/09/2023 08:02

I'm a regular bus user in London and would feel frustrated at being limited to buses. The journey times are often longer than the Google Maps estimates, they are always terminating randomly or stopping mid route to change drivers or even out the service. It will end up being longer than 6 hours. Aren't they offering the option of tubes? They are generally far quicker.

Not all London boroughs have the Tube! Mine doesn’t.

lljkk · 01/09/2023 08:57

The air quality in cities esp. London is so bad. They had to do something radical. I don't think city people realise. DD comes home from London & comments loads about the fresh air. So many areas of London I find my eyes stinging. Just because you're used to the nasty, doesnt make it ok.

Tilllly · 01/09/2023 08:59

Are you in a union @CapturedLeprechaun ?

shibhon · 01/09/2023 09:06

Your car is over 17 years old and isn't going to last much longer i expect. Why not trade it in for a ULEZ compliant one? This is about cleaner air in cities - being in your profession I assumed you'd want peoples' lives to be better and healthier?

LittleBearPad · 01/09/2023 09:18

Have you looked into selling your car and getting a new one at all?

user1477391263 · 01/09/2023 09:55

Well, I appreciate it’s not easy, but your car is diesel and was manufactured the best part of two decades ago. You need to trade in your car, surely. We’ve all known diesels create filthy emissions for a really long time.

RamblingRosieLee · 01/09/2023 10:01

I know someone who has had dealings with him and his office and feel he is belligerent money waster who often do as things and wastes money just to smite the tories.

Op this is heart breaking and I would write to mp about it and papers.

RamblingRosieLee · 01/09/2023 10:03

I am saw an interesting clip from lbc radio with a man using a clean air monitor to go underground where levels are dangerously high.

RamblingRosieLee · 01/09/2023 10:05

@user1477391263 our car wouldn't get much more than 900 if that.
It's been in an accident and the front rebuilt, covered in scratches and it's dodgy on gear 1.

What do you suggest I trade it in with because we have nothing spare.