Government intervention in urban Public Health began in 1835 when councils were permitted to build pavements and charge them to ratepayers. 120 years later The Clean Air Act was passed by a Conservative government to stop thousands of preventable deaths from air pollution. The Great Smog, 1952, slaughtered Londoners adding to the normal annual toll.
The 1956 Act banned traditional open coal fires and turbocharged the switch to central heating.
The Clean Air Act was transformative, with housing changed forever. There were significant costs during the transition period. But! Tens of thousands of lives were saved and Londoners lived longer, happier, healthier lives.
ULEZ stands in this tradition. “The ULEZ is central to the Mayor of London’s plans to improve Londoners’ health. It will clean up the city’s toxic air, which leads to the early deaths of thousands of people every year.”2
The Great Smog of 1952 was a physical reality. Parts of London came to a halt with choking polluted air and very poor visibility.
21st century air pollution is invisible, though deaths are unpleasantly real. Three people a week die in Havering from air pollution. Deaths are the gruesome tip of a toxic iceberg. Thousands of people suffer respiratory problems which ruin their everyday lives.
During the transition to EV vehicles, ULEZ is a small and important step. It stands in a long Public Health tradition stretching back to 1835.
Notes
1 Summer 2022. ULEZ is London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone. For the historical contest see Highway Act 1835 – Wikipedia and Clean Air Act 1956 – Wikipedia
2 The Mayor’s Ultra Low Emission Zone for London | London City Hall There are about 9,500 air pollution deaths each year Twice as many deaths caused by air pollution in London – HealthyAir
Politics in Havering 
I stand with you, but I reckon the majority of Havering doesn’t. They point to a brown, interfering mayor who will cost them money. However, most cars in Havering are ulez compliant, but they don’t understand that. Admittedly, a scrappage scheme would help, but most can’t see beyond what the Tories and RA tell them. The RA will just be Tory lite on sensitive issues.
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Thank you for your reply.
The principle is that the polluter pays for the cost of their pollution. They don’t understand the cumulative impact of thousands of polluting vehicles. They also have a feeling that they are entitled to do exactly what they want regardless.
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