Ulez: Bucks driver supports emission zone in London after mum's death

Book publishing business owner John Healy, 58, from Chesham, shared what happened to his mum as a caution of the impact of pollution.

His mother Carol Ann Healy suffered from interstitial lung disease, which causes scarring of the lungs, before she passed away aged 86.

John said: “Sadiq Khan is absolutely right in what he is doing.

“It is ridiculous people cutting down [Ulez] cameras.

“If you watch somebody suffer like mum did, and she never smoked or did drugs, you wouldn’t be laughing about pollution and saying stuff like ‘I’ll take my diesel vehicle into town and London'.

John's mum Carol Ann Healy was an academic specialising in modern languages and Greek with a long career at Chesham Preparatory School from 1970 to 1997 (Image: John Healy)

He told opponents of Ulez to “get real” about what pollution was doing to people’s health.

“Before you start chopping cameras down and covering them up, check your facts and think what it would be like if your mum or dad had a pollution-oriented disease. I’ve known children with asthma, it’s an appalling disease, which can severely limit your life,” he said.

John’s warning comes two weeks after Ulez expanded to all London boroughs up to the border with Buckinghamshire.

From August 29, drivers in London face a daily charge of £12.50 if their vehicle doesn’t meet the Ulez emission standards.

Petrol cars first registered as new with the DVLA after 2005 and diesel cars first registered with the DVLA as new after September 2015 usually meet the Ulez standards, Transport for London said.

Despite owning two older, non-Ulez compliant vehicles and having sympathy for classic car owners, John was willing to get on board Ulez.

“If I was to travel to London within the Ulez zone, I would use public transport or use a vehicle that is compliant. I would not take something polluting into London,” he said.

READ MORE: Chesham Neighbourhood Plan consultation dates are announced

He called on for better and more affordable train travel to offer a viable solution to individual car use.

“The problem is there isn’t enough sufficient transport into London,” he said. 

With train tickets from High Wycombe to Marylebone and back costing around £32 for one adult without a discount, John questioned the incentive for people to leave their polluting vehicles at home.

He explained: “We need more park and rides. Ideally park and ride stations around the M25 so that people could actually board the train from the M25 and have a reasonable fair similar to the Ulez fee.

“If you’re on a train you can get you laptop out and plug it in. Trains are much more equipped to the modern traveller. You can’t exactly get your laptop out or do your make-up in your car.”