Ulez will help traders take fewer days off, says Sadiq Khan

Sadiq Khan told the radio station that it is in the interest of merchants to have Ulez compatible vehicles. Credit: Neil Hall/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Sadiq Khan has been asked to provide evidence for his claims that the expansion of London's Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) will result in traders taking fewer days off.

The Federation of Master Builders called on the capital's mayor to support his proposal that the expansion should be supported by merchants because it would reduce the number of sick days they take.

In an interview with Fix Radio on Monday, Mr Khan said: “I understand it is especially difficult now, traders are wasting time at work due to asthma and other health problems caused by respiratory diseases.

«It's in the sellers' best interest to have vehicles that meet the requirements because it means less time off work due to feeling unwell due to air pollution.»

In response to Mayor Brian Berry's statement, The group's chief executive, which represents small and medium-sized construction firms, said: «I would like to see evidence to support Mr. Khan's claim that merchants will be taking fewer days off due to the Ulez expansion, especially as builders will be recruiting turns. tab when the extended zone is entered.

The comments come just three weeks before the mayor is set to expand the Ulez to all 32 London boroughs.

London's ULEZ expansion plan

The August 29 expansion means Londoners will be left without a car that meets Euro 4 emission standards, will having to pay £12.50 every day they use their car.

Most petrol cars under 16 years old or diesel cars under six years old meet emission standards, according to Transport for London, which means diesel van dealers suffer disproportionately.

Mr Khan's comments on how air pollution influences the number of working days per year has been questioned elsewhere.

Clive Holland, a Fix Radio broadcaster who interviewed Mr Khan, expressed skepticism about this claim, stating that other modes of transport also have poor air quality levels.

He said: “He mentioned that traders would not lose their jobs because of better air quality. But I have seen reports highlighting that using public transport, especially the subway, is extremely unhealthy.” > Demonstrators gathered in Downing Street on Monday to protest the expansion of Ulez. Credit: Martin Pope/Getty Images

Fix Radio's research found Ulez's allegation means merchants will lose 21 business days due to high costs.

The mayor's spokesman said: «The mayor has always made it clear that he made the difficult decision to expand Ulez to address the triple problem of toxic air pollution, the climate emergency and traffic congestion.»

«Those who are more exposed to air pollution are especially at increased risk for diseases like asthma , heart disease and dementia.”

This also points to a study by the Confederation of British Industry. in 2020, resulting in cleaner air in cities and three million more working days a year in the UK.