Havering Friends of the Earth unhappy with council response that ULEZ is not the right approach to tackling climate change.

The Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion has been the subject of much debate across all outer London Boroughs. The majority have shown firm objections to it including Havering, insisting that it is not the right way foward.

Following the last full council meeting, Havering Friends of the Earth have issued the following.

Havering Friends of the Earth note the rules quoted by the chair of the 23rd November Council Meeting: ‘Members should keep to the subject in asking questions and in giving of answers.’

In the event of a speaker ignoring this warning, the chair said he would ‘intervene and stop them’.

We believe this ruling was ignored by Cllr Mugglestone in his reply to a question from Cllr Prince, and the chair should have intervened. We are angry and disappointed (for reasons set out below) that he was not challenged. We seek a ruling that the answer was not on the subject, and should have been ruled out of order. 

Cllr Prince asked whether Havering would install the equipment needed for the proposed extension of ULEZ, assuming the extension goes ahead. Cllr Mugglestone’s response was irrelevant and had nothing to do with ULEZ:

He stated (emphasis added):  ‘Havering’s commitment to tackling climate change is clear for everyone to see, in Havering net CO2 emissions have decreased…‘  He said he was ‘proud of Havering’s Climate Change Action Plan, and the aim of making Havering carbon neutral by 2040 or sooner.’  He added that he did ‘not consider the ULEZ as the right approach to tackling climate change in outer London.’ 

ULEZ is not designed to combat climate change, but to look after our health, by protecting us from air pollution caused by poisonous gases, especially NO2, and by particulates. The ULEZ zone does not set out to limit CO2.  CO2 does not harm our health. Cllr Mugglestone’s answer is irrelevant and misleading. He did not even mention public health. 

We seek this ruling because councillors and the public need to be clear about the purpose of the ULEZ, and its relevance to us in Havering.

Havering is one of the two London boroughs with the highest death rate from lung disease associated with air pollution.  The age profile in this borough makes us more vulnerable – we need the highest possible standards of clean air to prevent the hundreds of early deaths that occur in Havering each year from lung disease. 

Our children are vulnerable too, and there are a number of schools in Havering that are situated in areas with high levels of traffic – the air pollution near these schools is causing permanent lung damage to our children. This is what ULEZ is about, and we are angry that the councillor responsible for our air quality does not seem to know this.

We ask that the council – as a matter of urgency – correct the false impression given by Cllr Mugglestone’s statement at the recent council meeting, get him to withdraw it, and issue a statement clarifying the nature and purpose of ULEZ.