A mechanic has claimed he has been going bald as a result of stress due to the Ulez charge.
Ross Stanesby claimed his income for his motorcycle recovery firm has halved as a result of the controversial scheme.
The 46-year-old had to scrap his non-compliant Nissan truck as he could not afford the £12.50 charge which impacts him in in Carshalton, south London.
Stanesby said he has been forced to work three nights a week stacking shelves at Sainsbury’s to make ends meet.
The father of two claims business has halved because he does not have a big enough vehicle to go out on jobs.
He told MailOnline: “It’s been a living nightmare since it was brought in. I had a stress-free life before. I had very few worries. Then Ulez came in and it all went wrong.
“I had to scrap the truck because it was not compliant. I could not afford the £12.50 a day it would have left me without a business. And I could not afford to buy a compliant one because they’d be too expensive for the size of one I would need.
“‘Half of the business has gone. I can only do jobs here at my house, I cannot travel for work which means I have lost a hell of a lot of business. I have to spend three nights in a supermarket. It’s ruined my life. It’s making me go bald.”
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The scheme has proved controversial since it was expanded
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The expansion of the Ulez area to cover the whole of London from August 29 has been controversial among London residents.
Some have welcomed the scheme as improving air quality in the capital, while others claim it is targeting the wrong people, including Stanesby who said his doctor has said the hair loss is as a result of the stress caused.
He said: “My doctor said it’s the direct cause – the stress of the business and having to work nights, all caused by Ulez. It’s horrible. I will have to go back and be put on medication if it does not improve.
“It was never on the cards. Before all this things were pretty good. Life and business were good. I am a skilled tradesman having to stack shelves to get by. It’s demoralising. Ulez has ruined my life. I’ll be totally bald next year.”
A TfL spokesperson said: “London has made significant progress over the last six years in improving air quality, but it sadly remains the case that thousands of Londoners die prematurely each year as a result of toxic pollution.
“Children are growing up with stunted lungs and thousands of people in our city are developing life-changing illnesses due to pollution, such as cancer, lung disease, dementia and asthma.
“The recent expansion of Ulez London-wide brings the benefits of the scheme to a further five million Londoners living in outer London, where over half of the deaths attributable to air pollution occur.
“Only those with the most polluting vehicles have to pay the Ulez charge, and data shows that 95 per cent of vehicles seen driving in the zone on an average day are already compliant. Millions of pounds of support is still available through the scrappage scheme to help London residents, small businesses and charities to transition to greener alternatives.”
