Pensioner becomes housebound after having to sell his car for the ULEZ expansion.

An 87 year old pensioner from Rush Green is now virtually housebound and sees very few people after he sold his much loved car due to the Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion.

His daughter Amanda, who does not live in the borough, told the Havering Daily: “He loved his car and had it for over 25 years. It was his way of going to the shops maybe twice a week to get a bit of shopping for himself and my mum. They don’t get out very much, but did enjoy an outing perhaps twice a week to do a bit of shopping and just have the chance to chat with others.

“He sold his car last year and was really upset over it. He managed to buy another car which is compliant but he is scared to drive it. He has lost his confidence. At the age of 87 years old, he doesn’t have the same confidence in getting in a different car and starting all over again.”

The pensioner is now so scared of driving the car, he actually prefers staying at home and has become housebound.

“They said that when the ULEZ expansion kicked in, we would see many impacts on the community. Well, here is one. My father is now on the point of being housebound and nobody cares. Going out that couple of times a week gave him his freedom and the opportunity to meet others in the community.

“Now, he is so scared he literally shakes with nerves having to drive the other car as its not his much loved vehicle.

“It is so awful for me to see him so nervous like this. I understand wanting clean air, but the way this was introduce across outer London was all wrong and all I see are the many negative impacts it has had across our communities. There are many pensioners who now see no one, as families members can’t afford to pay the ULEZ charges each week to visit them. Nobody seems to care about this.”

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