At the end of August, London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone, initially designed to tackle air pollution in the capital’s centre, was expanded to every borough. The move has been met with an extraordinary backlash, also putting other areas of the country on alert.
In London, the result is a £12.50 daily charge for drivers of the highest-polluting vehicles, should they enter the now abundant ULEZ zones, with many opting to completely replace their vehicles to comply.
With similar schemes already being piloted and planned elsewhere in the country, fears of severe restrictions are rising. As a group reliant on travel and often using vans and older vehicles, many anglers view the latest developments as a kick in the teeth.
ULEZ IS DESIGNED TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE. HERE'S HOW CLIMATE CHANGE MIGHT IMPACT ANGLING IN THE FUTURE.
A BARRIER TO ANGLING?
Keen London angler Eddie Edwards is just one of many impacted by the recent changes, with his fishing now severely limited.
“ULEZ has prevented me from supporting my local tackle shop,” he told us.
“I can no longer park my car on the Grand Union Canal to carry out by bailiff duties for Blenheim Angling Society, nor can I access the River Colne for river invertebrate monitoring.”
Whilst some would suggest anglers like Eddie could just upgrade their vehicle, the reality is far more difficult.
“I was diagnosed with cancer last year, I am 74 and living on state pension. Upgrading my car is not an option,” he added.
“I also have a disabled friend within the zone, I shall no longer be picking him up to take him fishing. Make no mistake, I am passionate about our environment but, in my opinion, this latest expansion is simply a cash-making exercise."
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TACKLE SHOPS 'ADAPTING'
Besides individual anglers, there are also concerns that footfall at tackle shops within the zones could suffer. However, early indications suggest that customer loyalty and adaptation are helping stores and punters ride out the storm.
Harefield Tackle store manager Jason Evans explained: "Our shop is right on the cusp of the zones, the shop is in it but 50 yards across the road is not.
"There are diverse routes to get to us, but to be honest, I don't think we've lost anything in terms of customers so far - 95% have ULEZ compliant vehicles, some don't even realise they do.
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"It's not something we ever wanted but customers are getting round it, and we're helping them as much as we can.
"We help people check if their vehicle is compliant and have a map to show customers where they can and can’t go.”
In spite of the changes, continued customer loyalty is one of the big things Jason has noticed since the zones came into force.
“Our customers are loyal and continue to support us despite the ULEZ concerns,” he said.
“We’ve seen people car sharing, or coming in second compliant vehicles, and instead of visiting two of three times a week, they come once and really stock up.
"If anglers really can't get to us, we've been happy to run stuff across the road out of the zone, too. I think this will turn out like Covid, in that we will eventually learn to adapt."
'NO OPTION BUT TO CHANGE'
A final major concern is around decreasing visits to fisheries and angling clubs in and around ULEZ zones.
Despite large day-ticket venues likeFarlows suggesting there has been "no direct impact", many angling clubs are worried about future membership numbers.
North Harrow Waltonians Angling Society secretary Alan Bailey moved to Plymouth several years ago but still regularly visits his partner and fishes within the zone. For him the recent changes have proved very costly.
"I had to get a new car to comply with the restrictions, at a cost of £17,000," he said.
"Anglers don't typically have compliant cars, due to the mileage and size of vehicles required to store our kit in. I had a diesel as we were told to get them, and I bought it thinking it would last forever.
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"A lot of other anglers are around my age, 63, and not everyone has savings like me to replace these vehicles.
“It was going to end up costing me £12 everyday just to pull off the drive.
"There was no option but to change, and with the cost of living as it is, it certainly isn't something I wanted to do."
Following his hassle with ULEZ, Alan fears the true impact on angling is only just starting to sink in.
"We are a carp angling club in the Colne Valley on the edge of ULEZ, if you come out of the car park and turn one way, you're fine, the other way, you're not," he added.
"I think we will see people not buying memberships as they can't bring their car into the area. It will reduce the people visiting from outside London.
"If you're going to a fishery, you now have to figure out if you're going into a ULEZ zone.
"An extra £12 on every fishing day is not viable for some anglers, who will simply choose not to visit.
"Fisheries on the edge of the zones will be ok, but for those within, when you add the increased prices of tackle, bait, petrol and parking, ULEZ could become a real problem.
"This is going to expand elsewhere too, and people will be caught out with nowhere to go."
ULEZ & CLEAN AIR ZONES CURRENTLY IN OPERATION:
ENGLAND
CITY + AREA IN SQUARE MILES
Bath - 1.2
Birmingham - 2.96
Bradford - 9.35
Bristol - 1.18
London - 236
Oxford - 0.5
Portsmouth - 1.16
Sheffield - 0.9
Tyneside - 0.94 (Newcastle and Gateshead)
SCOTLAND
Aberdeen - 0.8
Dundee - 0.6
Edinburgh - 1.2
Glasgow - 1.0
ARE YOU AFFECTED BY ULEZ?
Here’s how to check your vehicle and restricted areas around the country
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