London Business Owners Criticize ‘Clean Air Neighbourhood’ Scheme.

Local business owners on a bustling street in London are unhappy with measures taken by the Labour council to reduce traffic and air pollution. The Hammersmith and Fulham Council has implemented the ‘Clean Air Neighbourhood’ scheme, which uses cameras to prevent non-residents from using side streets as shortcuts. Those who violate this rule face substantial fines after a two-month grace period that ended in January. However, local business owners claim that this scheme is causing a decline in foot traffic near their shops, as it is deterring potential customers from stopping by.
The Labour-run council refutes this claim, asserting that the traffic congestion is not a result of the air-pollution scheme. The scheme allows residents with registered vehicles to travel through the cameras without penalty, but non-residents must pay a fine if they do so. The side streets in question are located near the junction of Stokenchurch Street and Ryecroft Street, Perrymead Street, Peterborough Road, Broomhouse Lane, and Edenhurst Avenue.
The implementation of this scheme has coincided with suggestions by London Mayor Sadiq Khan to introduce a ‘pay-as-you-drive’ scheme, which would charge drivers based on factors such as time of day, number of passengers, and distance traveled.
Local business owners are unhappy with the new restrictions, as it has caused a significant loss of business for them. Mehmet Oz, the manager of Fulham Greens, notes that his grocery store has lost customers who used to park nearby, while Nicholas Kennerson, who owns the frame fitting shop Fix Your Pix, claims that Hally’s brunch restaurant has lost £10,000 in the past two months.
local business owners on a busy London street have criticized the ‘Clean Air Neighbourhood’ scheme implemented by the Hammersmith and Fulham Council. The scheme aims to reduce traffic and air pollution by limiting the use of side streets by non-residents, but local business owners claim that this is causing a decline in foot traffic near their shops. The council refutes this claim, and the scheme continues to be enforced with fines for non-compliance.
Another local business owner, who did not wish to be named, expressed frustration with the scheme, saying: “We have been here for years, and the council doesn’t seem to care about our livelihoods. It’s just another way for them to make money.”
The council, however, insists that the scheme is necessary to improve air quality in the area and reduce congestion. They also claim that the increase in traffic on the New King’s Road is not a result of the scheme but is instead due to other factors, such as road closures and diversions.
The ‘Clean Air Neighbourhood’ scheme is not the only initiative being considered by the city to reduce traffic and air pollution. The proposed ‘pay-as-you-drive’ scheme, which would charge motorists based on the time of day, number of passengers, and distance traveled, has also been met with mixed reactions.
While some argue that such a scheme would encourage people to use public transport or cycle instead of driving, others believe that it would disproportionately affect those who rely on their cars to commute to work or transport goods.
As the debate over these schemes continues, local business owners are left to grapple with the immediate impact on their livelihoods. While some businesses are seeing a decline in foot traffic and revenue, others are finding ways to adapt to the changes.
For example, some businesses are focusing on online sales or offering delivery services to customers who are unable to visit their stores. Others are collaborating with neighboring businesses to create a more attractive shopping destination and encourage foot traffic.
It remains to be seen whether these traffic-reducing measures will have a lasting impact on air quality and congestion in London, and what the cost of these changes will be for local businesses and their communities.