Dear LPG

I want to say something about how difficult things are for pensioners who are still allowed to drive.   I say allowed to drive because so many who live in London were stripped of their vehicles in October 2021 when our cars suddenly became too old to be considered roadworthy, unless we were able to get a newer one or pay £12.50 every time we wanted to move the one we still have.  

This has forced so many pensioners into a position where they had to give up cars which they would never be able to replace at a time of life when walking becomes a real medical problem for so many.  

It is also a fact that many pensioners now suffer even though they don’t drive because family members who would visit more often cannot visit because of the financial problems involved.    I know more than a few pensioners who have children and grandchildren who live beyond the 2021 North and South Circular zone where, in these days of austerity (with added utility, food, and mortgage costs), an extra charge of £12.50 every time they want to cross the ULEZ threshold seriously limits the more regular visits they used to be able to make.  

I took a look online where there are lots of statistics showing how many people have changed their cars since October 2021 in preparation for this added ULEZ threat but no mention of all the people who have been forced to give up driving or who are affected because they have family that now cannot afford to visit them as regularly as they once used to.

I fear that more people will again be forced into changing vehicles with the result that bringing younger generations of family to see their older relatives will be cut even more after August this year. While the government will boast about what they have achieved and how many cars have been updated because of their schemes, there will be no statistics that show the reality of the pensioners who will be forced to give up driving or the family visits to see the grandparents that will be missed.     

It appears that whatever the government does to improve our standard of living, there is a high financial price that we taxpayers will need to pay. Whether our relatives find themselves having to buy a new car and tighten their belts even more into the bargain, give up their visits to see us older family members altogether, resulting in having a newer car but limited funds to move it, or pay the charge sparingly,  resulting in fewer visits, many will be affected (shops, small businesses and so many other sections of our community). Still, many non-driving older people will also pay the price without parting with a penny. 

AR, Downham