Confused by what exactly changes to London's Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) means for us in Kent? Will you have to pay for a trip to Ikea or the O2 once the area is expanded? Or simply to visit friends in Bromley or Bexley?

All your questions are answered here...

So the basics first - just what exact is the Ulez and why does it bother any of us good folk in Kent?

It will come as little surprise to anyone, that pollution in our big cities has long been issue. To tackle the problem in the capital, there have been a number of significant moves to tackle the problem over the last 20 years.

The first, and most significant, was the congestion charge. First introduced in 2003, it ushered in a charge for anyone wanting to drive their vehicle in or around central London (unless, of course, you're fully electric, in which case it's free). It proved a big success, primarily by reducing the number of vehicles in the traditionally heavily-congested area and numbers dropped by 20% within two weeks.

It was also a nice little money earner for Transport for London (TfL), with monies raised going towards the public transport network in the capital.

In 2014, to build on the success of the scheme, Boris Johnson, then London Mayor, announced plans to go a step further and usher in an Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez).

It was designed to target the vehicles which belched the most pollution into the atmosphere. In short, if you drove one of the vehicles it applied to, then you would have to pay an additional charge on top of the congestion charge.

At its heart, the scheme was designed to encourage people to switch from heavily polluting vehicles or, at the very least, not getting them to join the traffic clogging up the capital's road.

Introduced in 2019 by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, it covered the same area as the congestion zone.

Again, it proved a success, with a 20% drop in emissions.

It was expanded in 2021 - stretching out to London's traditional ring road boundaries through its outer suburbs - the North Circular A406 and South Circular A205.

But, as of August 2023 it will expand outside of London's borders for the first time.

OK, so where will the Ulez zone now expand to?

Now, this is where it becomes significant for those of us in Kent. It will now cover all of Greater London, which means it butts up to the county and if, for example, you're planning to drive up to the O2 Arena in Greenwich, you will have to pay a daily fee if - and we'll come on to this in a moment - your vehicle is one which is subject to the charge.

And that charge will be £12.50 a day for a car.

Greater London includes the former Kent towns which now reside in the London Boroughs of Bromley and Bexley. So if you work in, for example, Orpington or Bromley, you may have to start factoring in considerably higher motoring costs. Ditto if you regularly visit family or friends now covered by the expanding area.

Previously, you were having to travel up as far as Lewisham or Woolwich before you had to start to worry.

If you visit this page on the TfL site, you can see exactly what roads and areas will be covered.

Is it the same at the Low Emissions zone?

No. The Low Emissions Zone - which already covers most of Greater London - doesn't apply to cars but vans, lorries and coaches over 3.5 tonnes or buses and coaches over 5.5 tonnes. That's a separate charge and there's no changes to that.

So if I am going to a concert at the O2, or planning a trip to Ikea in Thurrock, will I now have to pay the Ulez charge from August 2023?

If you are going to Thurrock for a stroll around Ikea, staying out of the London boroughs en-route, and taking the Dartford Crossing, then no, regardless of the type of vehicle you drive, you will not enter the Ulez zone.

The zone does cross, on occasion, the M25 (although not in Kent), but motorists using the motorway will not have to pay the charge.

However, if you drive to the O2 or North Greenwich underground station - used frequently for London day trips when the rail workers are on strike - then you will be deep in Ulez country and have to pay.

It's worth noting that the Ulez zone is in force 24-hours, seven-days-a-week. In fact, the only day it isn't charged is Christmas Day.

How do they know if I'm in the Ulez zone?

Like the congestion charge, the area which the Ulez currently covers is monitored by cameras at all the key routes in and out.

In short, if you drive into it, your car's registration number will be picked up and run through the system. If your vehicle is one of those that must pay, you will be spotted.

Pay by midnight after the third day of your journey and all is well. Fail to do that, and you'll get a penalty notice with additional action if you fail to cough up.

Do all vehicles have to pay the Ulez charge?

No. But plenty will.

If you are a car driver, a general rule of thumb is that your car meets the Euro 4 (for petrol) or Euro 5 or 6 (for diesel) emissions' standard, you will be exempt and not need to pay. Which, in short, means almost every petrol car registered after January 2006 - and diesel car registered after 2015 - can breathe easily.

Not sure if your car fits the bill? If you visit the Transport for London site here, you can enter your reg and see if you will have to pay now - and when the zone is expanded in August.

What has the response been to the Ulez zone getting so close to Kent's borders?

Many aren't best pleased - as you can imagine. The expansion of the zone will mean an additional 200,000 vehicles could face having to pay the daily charge.

And, inevitably, it will be those with older cars who will be exposed to the charges - in other words those least likely to be able to afford a new, cleaner car.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson, speaking when the expansion plan was out for consultation, said: "Many of the poorest people in Dartford will suffer a huge financial burden if this goes ahead.”

While Louie French, Tory MP for Bexley and Sidcup, also branded the proposals "outrageous".

He feared the charge could destroy local businesses and have a massive impact on key workers and the emergency services who commute between Bexley and Kent.

Many say the zone is being expanded as a way for TfL simply to generate more revenues.

So I've checked and I will have to pay the charge - how much is it and when do I have to start paying?

The Ulez charge is currently £12.50 a day. And that's on top of the congestion charge (£15).

You can pay through a variety of methods - including online, by phone, the TfL pay-to-drive in London app or by setting up an Auto Pay account - which works in a similar way to that at the Dartford Crossing - and charges you directly each month for every use. You can also pay in advance.

Worth also being aware of is that the charging period is midnight to midnight. So turn up at a friend's house at 9pm and leave at 1am and you could end up with two charges.

Get a penalty notice, and the charge is £160 - or £80 if paid within 14 days. Failure to pay at all and you can expect TfL to escalate it.