Man says he won’t be able to visit his seriously unwell granddaughter, 6, due to Ulez

A man claimed he soon won’t be able to visit his very ill granddaughter due to the upcoming £12.50 daily Ulez charge he cannot afford. 

Iain Buers, 55, currently lives in Sudbury, Suffolk, with his wife, but has several family members in east London who he visits.

This includes his granddaughter Charlotte, 6, who has been receiving treatment at Evelina Children’s Hospital.

Charlotte has various heart problems and Mr Buers says she is living on ‘borrowed time’. 

However, the former TfL bus driver is concerned the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) expansion will mean he won’t get to see his family. 

He medically retired from his job around 16 years ago due to suffering from reduced lung function, fibromyalgia, sciatica and arthritis.

Mr Buers says the increase of Ulez into all London boroughs would incur a daily £15 charge to drive his 2002 petrol Volvo V70 automatic over the border into the capital. 

Giving his thoughts on the planned Ulez expansion, he said: ‘It’s just another tax on the poor who can’t afford it. It’s ridiculous, those who can afford new cars can afford it – it’s crazy. 

‘When I went online and checked, it’s actually £15 a day for me, not the lowest. It’s just ludicrous.

‘My partner’s got a small car, but I struggle to go anywhere in it. I’m a big bloke with back and knee problems, I need a bigger car to be reasonably comfortable.’

His income is around £550 per month, comprising £330 in personal independence payment (PIP) every four weeks and £200 employment and support allowance (ESA) every fortnight. 

His partner Pam, 52, works part-time as a care worker and the couple pay full rent and full council tax.

He claims it can cost between £20 to £25 to visit his mum, 86, and dad, 87, who live in Hornchurch, and it would be another £15 to drive in the zone – which almost doubles his costs. 

He also feels isolated from Charlotte’s mum, his daughter Harley, 28, who lives in Dagenham.

Mr Buers went on to share his worries about not seeing his ill grandchild, adding: ‘I’m getting penalised because I can’t afford a new car. It’s crazy. 

‘Charlotte is living on borrowed time, I didn’t think she’d last this long to be honest, but she’s fighting it well. We had a phone call this Christmas telling us she might not be coming out.’

‘Every time I come away from visiting her I’m in tears because every time could be the last. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy – it’s a horrible feeling.’

Public opinion on the Ulez expansion has been very divided ahead of its proposed introduction in August. 

But Christina Calderato, Transport for London’s director of strategy and policy, said: ‘Thousands of Londoners die prematurely each year as a result of toxic pollution and it causes children to grow up with stunted lungs and increases the risk of dementia in older people.

‘The London-wide Ulez is vital in tackling the triple threats of air pollution, the climate emergency and congestion, and will ensure millions more people can breathe cleaner air. Those outside the London boundary will also benefit, with drivers outside of the capital shifting to cleaner vehicles that meet the standards.

‘In order to support small businesses, sole traders, charities, Londoners on lower incomes and disabled Londoners in replacing their older, more polluting vehicles with greener options, the Mayor has launched London’s biggest ever scrappage scheme worth £110 million.’ 

She added London has not received any money towards scrappage from the government, unlike other UK cities. 

‘That is why the Mayor has written to the Prime Minister to ask for further funding to match what has already been allocated to help support people who drive into London from the home counties with the most polluting vehicles,’ she said.

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