On the 25th October 2021, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will be expanded from the North to the South Circular Roads in London and will impose a daily charge of £12.50 on those with older vehicles. This is an important, progressive initiative, but the daily charge will have a brutal impact on the ability of approximately 1/4 million disabled people with Blue Badges in London to access critical goods and services and receive help and support from others – all of which are especially important during the Covid19 pandemic.

Disabled campaigners have made repeated requests to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) to provide disabled people in London who have a Blue Badge, with the same reasonable adjustments that are currently provided under the Congestion Charging Zone – in short we believe that, for now, Blue Badge holders’ and their carers’ vehicles should be fully exempt from the ULEZ charges.

We believe it is totally unacceptable to impose new barriers when disabled people have already been so disproportionately impacted during the Covid19 pandemic. 

•    Disabled people are the most disproportionately impacted group from the Covid19 pandemic and lockdowns, with 60% of all Covid19 deaths being disabled people, whilst only amounting to 17% of the population (Office of National Statistics). 

•    Disability is now one of the strongest predictors of poverty – 54% of the those who live in destitution in the UK are disabled people (Joseph Rowntree Foundation) – disabled people can least afford the new charges or have the luxury to buy a new car, with many already having to choose between heating or eating.

•    Less than 30% of London's tube stations are accessible with step-free access (London Assembly) - London's inaccessible public transport system results in many disabled people having no choice but to drive to manage their health and wellbeing.

The Mayor of London and TfL have already given exemptions for all of London's Diesel Black Cabs for ULEZ and are also supporting the new four lane Silvertown tunnel, but have so far failed to exempt disabled Blue Badge holders in London.   

We believe that TfL’s Equality Impact Assessment did not properly consider the needs of disabled people during the Covid19 pandemic to receive help and support from friends, family, carers and helpers. In its current form we believe ULEZ would breach of our Human Rights and the Public Sector Equality duty as set out in the Equality Act 2010. Where a disabled person is put at a ‘substantial disadvantage’ the service provider has a duty to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ or provide the service in a different way. 

We are requesting your urgent help and assistance to raise £5K of funds though CrowdJustice for equality specialists Bindmans LLP to commission the opinion of an eminent QC to clarify our legal and human rights in this critical matter. 

Our supporters range from Action Disability Kensington and Chelsea (ADKC), Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Member of Parliament for Kensington, multiple London Assembly Members, Green Party Disability Group, Disability Rights UK and Inclusion London.

Please show your Solidarity for disabled people (WeThe15), we need your urgent support! Contribute if you can (can be done anonymously) and / or share with your social media networks! Thank You & God Bless #NoWheelChairTax