– Vandalism and protests against London’s ULEZ policy is intensifying
– Locals rally around one man holding an anti-ULEZ sign atop a ladder
– Vandals spray foam, set fire, wrap in tape, and cover in cardboard boxes
Locals around London have expressed their outrage against the city’s Ulez charge policy, which seeks to improve air quality and reduce pollution in the capital. As a result, vandals have been out in force, with one camera being covered in expanding foam and another blocked by a man holding an anti-Ulez sign on top of a ladder.
The protestor in east London attempted to stop cars from passing and avoid the Ulez charge, and was widely praised on social media. In Ickenham, two cameras were sprayed over with foam, while in other areas of the city cameras have been wrapped up in orange tape or covered in cardboard boxes.
In southeast London, nine out of 10 Ulez cameras have been vandalised, with only 29 out of 185 cameras working. Some online have supported the vandalism, with one person calling the vandals “heroes” and another lamenting they did not have the time to do the same.
One camera even appeared to be targeted by an arsonist, with a photo shared online appearing to show the black box filled with powder from an extinguisher.
These protests clearly demonstrate the strong opposition to Ulez amongst Londoners.
Vandals were out in force once again yesterday, with one camera being covered in expanding foam while elsewhere a man held an anti-Ulez sign on top of ladder trying to block a camera’s view. The Mail has the story.
It comes weeks after Sadiq Khan expanded his controversial policy to cover the whole of London – clobbering thousands more drivers with a £12.50 charge.
The protester scaled the ladder blocking the camera that sat on top of a Transport for London van on Rainham Road in east London, trying to stop cars to pass and avoid the Ulez charge.
Locals rallied around the man, with one writing on Facebook: “Let’s hear it for the lad sitting on the ladders blocking the Ulez camera on Rainham Road. This made my morning power to the people.”
Elsewhere in Ickenham, in the borough of Hillingdon, vigilante vandals sprayed foam used for sealing cracks and insulating lofts over two cameras, blocking it from catching drivers out.
Local resistance against the unpopular policy, that hopes to improve air quality and reduce pollution in the capital, has been growing since the expansion was announced.
Some online have supported the most recent vandalism. One person wrote: “These people deserve to be on the news for their good work well done. FAB-U-LOUS!”
Someone else on the group chimed in saying “Quality effort from a quality guy! Thank you.”
Another lamented that they weren’t able to do this themselves: “I wish I had the time to do this also.” In one comment he was hailed as a hero with the writer saying: “Not all heroes wear capes.”
On one occasion, a camera appeared to be targeted by an arsonists, with a photo shared online appearing to show the black box filled with what appeared to be powder from an extinguisher.
Meanwhile, other cameras have been wrapped up in orange tape or covered in cardboard boxes, with the words “NO ULEZ” scrawled over it.
In one part of southeast London, nine out of 10 of the Ulez cameras have been vandalised according to crowd-sourced data. Only 29 of the 185 cameras that have been installed in Sydenham are working.
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