Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.
Serious News
From 29th August next year, it has been announced that the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (or ULEZ) will be expanded to cover the entire area of London.
This follows opposition, and covers areas locally such as Sidcup, Erith, the outskirts of Dartford as well as Biggin Hill, Barnet and Enfield.
Currently, approximately 200,000 vehicles are driven in London currently which is expected to fall significantly.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan estimates that five million people will benefit from cleaner air and says: “The ULEZ so far has been transformational, reducing harmful pollution levels by almost a half in central London. But there is still far too much toxic air pollution permanently damaging the health of young Londoners and leading to thousands of early deaths every year, with the greatest number of deaths in the outer London boroughs”.
Those with non-compliant vehicles will have to pay £12.50 a day to enter the zone, which has been ridiculed following the current and expected worsening of the living crisis costs.
Crazy News
The tradition of Norway gifting Britain a Christmas tree goes back 75 years now, but it seems that each year the tree looks sorrier and sadder.
This year’s edition is no exception, as The Lord Mayor of Westminster visited Oslo to see the tree cut down before it was shipped, however in the photos taken on Saturday 19th November the tree looked fuller.
Many people are wondering if it is the fault of the shipping company, but if you cast to last year’s tree it was also lacking in branches too.
The @trafalgartree is now on its way to London 🎄
— British Embassy Oslo 🇬🇧🇳🇴 (@UKinNorway) November 21, 2022
A pleasure hosting @LM_Westminster this weekend, and thanks to @Oslokommune for a wonderful ceremony! The tree remains a symbol of the close 🇬🇧🇳🇴 relationship
Disclaimer: The #TrafalgarTree was in perfect condition when it left! pic.twitter.com/qs11Uo4KSz
Happy News
A Maidstone resident has been scrubbing road signs clean for free during his spare time to give back to his community.
25-year-old Liam Wildish who also owns a window washing business has become a notable local figure in the area as he wears his red caps and bright blue company jacket, with many people going to social media saying that they spotted him.
Talking of his endeavours, Liam says: “I like to think it makes a difference to the appearance of the area and hopefully improves road safety during these long winter nights. People wave at me or beep their horns, or comment on my videos to say they saw me out”.
After moving to the town earlier this year, he had to build his client base from scratch, and this cleaning of signage is a thank you to those who had recommended him through word-of-mouth.
