WOKINGHAM and Reading residents heading to Heathrow are being warned that from the end of the month, they could be made to pay the ULEZ charge.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone. From Tuesday, August 29, it will include the greater London area including the airport.
The £12.50 a day charge applies to vehicles that do not meet the minimum emissions standard. It includes cars, smaller vans and motorbikes and is most likely to apply to petrol cars first registered before 2005.
The fee needs to be paid by midnight on the third day following the journey.
A fine for non-payment is £160, which is reduced to £80 if paid on time.
In March, Transport for London revealed that more than 90% of cars driving in outer London met ULEZ standards, meaning the vast majority will not have to pay the daily fee.
There is also a £110 million scrappage scheme being offered to smaller businesses, sole traders, charities, Londoners on lower incomes and disabled Londoners.
It says the ULEZ scheme is necessary to tackle the triple threats of air pollution, the climate emergency and congestion and help five million people.
The mayor said: “The aim of the ULEZ is to get the most polluting vehicles off our roads in order to protect both the health of Londoners and our environment.”
And Christina Calderato, TfL’s Director of Transport Strategy and Policy, said: “The vast majority of those travelling in the zone when it expands London-wide will not have to pay the charge.”
Drivers can check if their vehicle needs to pay the ULEZ charge by logging on the Transport for London’s website, https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/
It is also possible to set up automated payments if applicable, by logging on to: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/pay-to-drive-in-london
