Residents Express Frustration with Extended Levy on Polluting Vehicles
A town in Kent has created a 35ft effigy of London Mayor Sadiq Khan for its annual bonfire night celebration. The effigy, known as Guy, will be set alight in Edenbridge as a symbol of residents' frustration with Khan's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) car crackdown. Under the extended Ulez scheme, drivers in the area now face a daily fee to enter the zone if they own polluting vehicles. The effigy, holding a Ulez sign and wads of cash, will be paraded through the town before being burned.
A Tradition of Ridiculing Public Figures
Every year, the Edenbridge Bonfire Society chooses a different celebrity "villain" to create an effigy of for bonfire night. Previous public figures who have been ridiculed include Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Harvey Weinstein, Donald Trump, and Katie Hopkins. This year, Sadiq Khan was chosen by popular demand over other contenders like Suella Braverman, Russell Brand, Phillip Schofield, and Harry and Meghan.
Frustration with the Ulez Scheme
The Ulez scheme was first launched in 2019 to address air pollution in London. It aims to discourage drivers from using highly polluting vehicles by imposing a daily fee to enter the designated zone. However, residents of Edenbridge feel that the extension of the Ulez scheme has negatively impacted their livelihoods without providing adequate support. They argue that while those living within the extended zone receive assistance, those living outside the zone face the burden of the daily fee without any support.
Annual Bonfire Night Celebration
The Edenbridge Bonfire Society has been celebrating bonfire night for 95 years, and their event is a highlight of the town's calendar. On November 4, approximately 10,000 people are expected to attend the celebration, with visitors coming from London, Surrey, Kent, and Sussex. The torch-lit carnival procession will involve 550 people and will parade Mr. Khan's effigy through Edenbridge High Street before the bonfire is lit.
Source: The Guardian
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