By Ashley Young-
The Advertising Standing Authority (ASA) has launched an investigation into a TV advert promoting Sadiq Khan’s Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion (ULEZ).
It comes as the ASA began looking into the advert after it received over 370 complaints
The ULEZ advert was commissioned by Transport for London (TfL) in a bid to promote the expansion and stated that: “London has an urgent air quality problem and it’s impacting the health of Londoners.”
It continued the Mayor of London’s argument that toxic air in the capital led to the premature deaths of thousands of Londoners, hoping that the expansion will reduce the health risks.
Evidencing the health impact on Londoners, the Mayor’s office published research reviewed by Imperial College London, finding that 200,000 highly polluting vehicles are driving in the capital regularly, seeing around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely.
Thee advert, commissioned by Transport for London (TfL) to promote the expansion, claimed that ‘London has an urgent air quality problem and it’s impacting the health of Londoners’.
It features argument by The Mayor of London that toxic air leads to the premature deaths of thousands of Londoners each year and the ULEZ expansion will reduce it. The Mayor’s office published research peer reviewed by Imperial College London which showed 200,000 high-polluting vehicles are driven regularly in the capital and it asserts that roughly 4,000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to toxic air.
Complaints featured by media publication My London, features several complaints over the adevert
However, prominent Conservative politicians and several London councils who recently launched a legal challenge and dispute the evidence. Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon argue their boroughs “enjoy good air quality” with levels of harmful gases “considerably below the levels in inner and central London”.
In a statement on Friday (February 17), the ASA said: “We’ve received 370 complaints about this ad. “We’re currently investigating to determine whether there are grounds for further action.”
However, some boroughs have shown their disapproval of the expansion, with areas including Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon all concerned about residents paying £12.50 a day to drive in the ULEZ.
Following the release of TfL’s advert for the expansion, ASA shared a statement, saying: “We’ve received 370 complaints about this ad. We’re currently investigating to determine whether there are grounds for further action.”