I was born in North London, grew up there, went up Alexandra Palace to the boating lake, miniature railway and part time fairground for fun. Looking out across London from that vantage point, it was a rare day that you could actually SEE St. Pauls Cathedral dome. I experienced smog in the 1950's and 60's, such that six feet was the furthest you could see and sometimes much less. At times, Bus Inspectors would walk ahead with a flare to guide the driver along the way - and still get lost. The regular drone of traffic was replaced with comparative silence with engines ticking over as drivers strained to follow the red lights of the vehicle in front. People gave up and walked. Windows and door frames would be sealed with damp rolled up newspapers to keep the filthy smog laden air out while we waited for a change in the weather. On any normal day, seeing the other side of the Thames was a 'clear day'. There were no fish in the Thames through Central London.
We have today a much cleaner London than since the Roman times. There are fish in the river, people jog and run marathons, yet the 'greens' continue to bleat about 'emissions' and in their ignorance cite carbon dioxide as a pollutant, if not that, it's NOX gases, of which most come from domestic cooking and heating - from which no-one has yet ever died. Asthmatics suffer more from house dust than what is in the air outside.
Along with the climate change con, everyone is being lied to at every juncture. We have had a succession of 'weasel' London 'Mayors' who have sought to expand and capitalise on their positions at the cost of business, residents, and tourists alike. As a courier for over twenty years, I saw London's road network strangled to death as roads narrowed; through routes terminated; pavements built out into the road; pedestrianisation schemes took the place of servicable access; traffic signal phasing go from 2 way to 4 way and individual timings on red increased. Congestion did not just 'occur' - it was generated to be made chargeable. London is a Ghost town, a 'theme park' to rip off the public at large. Heaven help you if you still live there.
Fog, at times it was almost a comforting phenominum. Sometimes we get fog in the Shropshire Hills. I quite like it. Natural fog that is.
Speaking of exempt vehicles according to TfL, their website once gave exemption for my Guzzi Le-Mans (1978) in the ULEZ. Then seemingly overnight - it changed. No rhyme or reason. But the 11 litre diesel turbocharged 36' long by 8' wide 1972 Leyland National coach that I once used to drive in service - was exempt. Two identical motorcycles built one month apart, and one could be exempt, the other not. We are being 'had' right left and centre. And there is sweet FA we can do about it - save move away. Even then it'll catch up. Deep rural I now live, but am not supposed to burn wood with a certain percentage of moisture content - it's against the 'Law'. Watch me!
