The new £200 a day charge for entering the Greater London Low Emission Zone is proving a burden not just to Havering businesses but also to many people entering the capital for pleasure and leisure purposes according to Upminster MP, Angela Watkinson..
Angela said: "We are all concerned about air quality and the changes taking place to our climate but the Greater London Low Emission Zone introduced by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone ignores the reality facing many businesses.

"What has surprised me is that a group of people who travel to Havering for leisure purposes are also facing this £200 a day tax on their pleasure.
Horse boxes are covered by this punitive daily charge which means that the many riders who compete at riding centres, such as Harwood Hall, will have to pay an extra £200 every time they take their horse box to those riding centres.
"That is a massive extra cost on a harmless leisure pastime which is often enjoyed by young people who are on restricted incomes and could well mean them not participating in these competitions, many of which are regionally recognised.
"Although the current charges apply just to larger vehicles it is extended later this year to include buses and coaches and eventually will include minibuses and vans so the impact will be even greater and could well include schools taking students on educational visits to London's museums and art galleries or sports teams travelling to matches against teams inside the M25.
"Many of our sporting and leisure activities cross the artificial border created by the M25 and if they are not careful those clubs could face having to buy new vehicles or pay £200 tax to Ken Livingstone every time they play a match.
"Once again it seems that extra taxes are being levied with no thought to the impact those extra costs and I am very worried that this punitive £200 a day charge will mean major problems.