Bromley ex-TfL worker slapped with £90 ULEZ fine despite having compliant car

A former Transport for London (TfL) fraud investigator took on the body after he was incorrectly slapped with a £90 ULEZ fine - and won. Alex Whitmey, 58, was stunned to receive the charge because he’d checked his new £52,000 F-type Jaguar was compliant before entering the controversial zone.

He checked the ULEZ website on November 17 before driving to Orpington, South East London, from his home in Sittingbourne, Kent. The zone, which was expanded by London Mayor Sadiq Khan last year, targets polluting vehicles with a £12.50 daily fee as they enter the capital.

The site said Mr Whitmey could travel without paying as his vehicle was compliant with the set environmental standards.

However, the motoring misunderstanding came about because Mr Whitmey had swapped the personalised registration plate from his old X-type Jag to his new one.

Although the website had been updated to show the new car’s details, the technology used for fines had not been - meaning TfL thought the old vehicle had entered the zone.

On November 28, the businessman was “shocked” to receive a £90 bill and was threatened this would rise to £270 if not resolved before Christmas Eve.

Alex, who now runs William Whitmey Independent Funeral Directors, said: “I checked on their own website putting in my car details and it clearly states ‘This vehicle meets the ULEZ emissions standards, you do not need to pay a daily ULEZ charge’.

“But they demanded a letter from the vehicle’s makers, a copy of my four-page logbook and a copy of the vehicle’s compliance certificate. It is utter madness. It’s not about the money it’s the principle.

“I could have understood if they admitted their own website was not fit for purpose but they just dug their heels in and asked me to jump through all these hoops."

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After receiving the bill, he and wife Nadine rechecked the website, which confirmed the Jag was compliant and sent a screenshot of the page as part of their appeal.

It was not until 9am on December 18, that a TfL reply reached them asking for more in-depth information - including a letter from Jaguar. Frustrated by the arduous task that had been set them, Nadine decided to call up TfL headquarters.

She said: “I explained the website said we were compliant but was told I needed to send all of this information to them within 14 days of the date of the letter.

“This would be impractical, especially given we were so close to Christmas and there were going to be third parties involved and I was reliant on them getting the information to me. Unfortunately, this did not make the slightest difference.”

The ULEZ now includes roads in Outer London (Image: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

TfL: 'We have cancelled all fines'

However, at around 4.30pm on the day they received the letter, the couple got a notification that the penalty had been rescinded.

Despite having the fine rescinded, Alex says his case could be one of hundreds and TfL needs to “look it into its system”.

He added: “How many other people out there get fined and just pay when their vehicle is compliant?

“Furthermore, if the website can send fines to people who have compliant cars, there are bound to be cars out there that are not compliant but not being charged. We are expecting some form of compensation.”

A TfL spokesman said: “We are sorry Mr Whitmey incorrectly received ULEZ penalty charges when his vehicle is compliant. We have cancelled all fines and we are contacting him to apologise for the distress this has caused.”

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How to apply for primary school place and when parents hear back

As of September 1 this year, you can apply for a primary school place for the 2025-26 academic year. It’s a competitive and stressful process with parents biting their nails as they wait to hear back.

Parents have until January 15 next year (2025) to log their applications. Late applicants are warned that they are less likely to get their chosen place.

Kids can join reception in the September after they turn four. Parents are legally required to ensure their kids are in suitable full-time education at the beginning of the term after their fifth birthday. Find out more below.

READ MORE: Full list of Tesco Christmas jobs in London paying £13.15 that you can apply for now

The m ajority of parents get their first choice (Image: Getty Images)

How to apply

To apply you need to begin on the government’s website here . You then type your postcode in - MyLondon has used an address in Southwark, South London - and you will be redirected to your council’s website.

This then requires to you to click the eAdmissions likn and you follow the steps to complete your application.

When will I hear back?

Parents will find out if their applications have been successful on Wednesday, April 16 2025. You must accept the offer by the deadline given in the offer letter. Otherwise, it may be withdrawn and the place given to someone else.

Councils are obliged to provide you with a place at a school. If your child has not been given a spot at a school you’ve applied for, then the place given is usually at your nearest school.

The decision will be sent by the local council by either letter or email. Some councils allow parents to view their results through the admissions portal or system. Exactly what time the offers will be released varies by council.

How likely am I to get my first choice?

In 2023, 92.5 per cent of families received an offer from their first choice with 98.3 per cent receiving an offer from one of their top three choices.

If you’re not offered your first-choice school, you can appeal the decision. However, even if you're appealing a decision, it is recommended that you accept the offer your child did receive so that they have a school place if the appeal is unsuccessful. Accepting another offer won’t affect your appeal or limit other options available to you.

How are places allocated?

Schools have differing criteria to decide who gets a place. However, there are a few factors schools may use to give priority spots.

They are:

• who live close to the school

• who have a brother or sister at the school already

• from a particular religion (for faith schools)

• who are eligible for the pupil premium

• whose parent has worked at the school for two years or more

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Low-calorie £12 Baileys is 'just like Original but you don’t feel as piggy'

Amazon shoppers are praising a new edition of Baileys that's just like the original, but with less calories. Baileys Deliciously Light is £12 on Amazon, £13 at Waitrose, and £16.50 at Sainsbury's and Tesco.

Baileys Deliciously Light is the same as Baileys Original, but with 40 per cent fewer calories. It combines Irish cream with cocoa and vanilla flavours for a light drink.

Baileys say the drink is 'deliciously indulgent, creamy, and smooth'. They recommend drinking it straight out of the fridge, mixing it into an espresso martini, or adding it to hot drinks.

READ MORE: Ninja customers can't believe how cheap new travel mug is in Boxing Day sale

The light Baileys has 40 per cent fewer calories than the original (Image: Amazon)

The light liqueur has 4.3 stars from 607 reviews. One person said: "I think I prefer this 40 per cent less Baileys. It’s bloody lovely. Just like the original but you don’t feel as piggy as there is less fat. But because it’s less fat you drink it faster and slowly get merry faster. So perfect for Christmas. Cheers!"

Another wrote "A nice change from regular Baileys. Quality taste and went down well with friends. A really good price. Recommended."

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"For a 40 per cent less calories duplicate of the original, this is pretty outstanding," a third wrote. "For someone like myself who is a Baileys connoisseur it is easy enough to taste the difference but for a slightly guilt free option this is a winner."

"I love Baileys and I love that this is reduced fat but still tastes creamy it was a nice treat at Christmas," another added. Of the negative reviews, one person said "Very poor flavour and really watery compared to the original. Won’t be buying again."

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Through WhatsApp, we'll send the latest exciting new products and bargains straight to your phone, both across London and online.

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Alternatively, you can try Barti Cream Liqueur, which is £24.01 at Master of Malt. The spiced cream liqueur is vegan, made with c coconut instead of dairy, and has notes of vanilla, clove, cinnamon, and orange.

If you're not counting calories, there's the Velvetised Chocolate Cream, which is £23 at Hotel Chocolat. It combines Hotel Chocolat's chocolates with vodka and sweet cream.

You can buy Baileys Deliciously Light from Amazon, Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Tesco. Get Barti Cream Liqueur from Master of Malt and Velvetised Chocolate Cream from Hotel Chocolat.

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The pretty North London park overshadowed by its busier neighbour perfect for a wintry Boxing Day walk

During the festive period, Boxing Day is the perfect time to relax with friends and family. While there's much to do this time of year, a winter walk is a great opportunity to unwind and appreciate the beauty of the season.

And the good news is that you don't have to go far from London, as the city itself is full of places to take a scenic stroll. One of them is the Waterlow Park, located not far from Hampstead Heath, which may be overrun on Boxing Day.

READ MORE: The beautiful Bucks village that's a National Trust site where houses are £300k cheaper than London

The 26-acre site was previously the private estate of Sydney Waterlow. But in 1889, the latter handed it over to the London County Council, presenting it as 'a garden for the gardenless'.

The pretty park has lots of wide open space for a walk or run (Image: 2016 Getty Images)

It was fully refurbished 20 years ago, and has since become a popular public space enjoyed by local residents of all ages. The park contains a kitchen garden, orchard, children's play area and many open spaces.

It is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, including ducks, bats, herons, woodpeckers, hedgehogs, bees, frogs and butterflies. And on the edge of the site, overlooking the Tea Lawn and terraced gardens, is Lauderdale House.

Lauderdale House was first built in 1582 (Image: TripAdvisor - Lauderdale House)

Dating back to the 16th century, it achieved a £2.3 million refurbishment in 2016. The Tudor house now runs as an arts and education centre.

Waterlow Park is located at Highgate Hl, London N6 5HG. The nearest Tube station is Archway on the Northern line. From there, you can walk or take the bus. It is open from early morning until dusk. then locked when it gets dark. Sunset on December 26 is 3.56pm.

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Bromley bin collection dates for Christmas and New Year plus tree recycling details

Waste collection dates for Bromley borough will be revised throughout this year's holiday period. The authority has asked residents to check a special calendar on its website to find out when their rubbish will be collected.

Collections planned for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day will all take place two days later than expected under the revised schedule. This means that collections planned for December 31 will instead be carried out on January 2.

Locals with waste scheduled to be picked up on December 27 will instead have their collection on December 30 - three days later than usual. Collections on January 2 will occur two days later on January 4, while residents with collections on January 3 can expect their rubbish to be picked up on January 6.

Residents are advised to check the council's website for revised collection dates (Image: Joe Coughlan)

Between January 6 and January 10, all collections will take place one day later than originally planned. Collections are expected to return to normal on January 13.

Real Christmas trees and other garden waste can be disposed of through temporary green garden waste sites in the borough. Three sites will be available from 11am to 4pm on January 11 including Norman Park on Hook Farm Road in Bromley, the Salt Depot off Sevenoaks Road and Cotmandene at the Crescent car park in St Paul's Cray.

Two centres will operate on January 12 from 8am to midday. These include Charles Darwin School in Biggin Hill and Unicorn Primary School car park in Beckenham. Residents are asked to remove all decorations from their tree beforehand and trees should not be left outside of the cited operating hours.

Trees can also be recycled at the council's reuse and recycling centres on Waldo Road and Churchfields Road. Individuals are asked to bring proof of address and to avoid the centres when they are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

People who are members of the council's green garden waste wheelie bin collections can also recycle their real Christmas trees using the service. A full calendar of rubbish collection dates over the holiday period can be found on the Bromley Council website.

Have a story you want to share? Email joseph.coughlan@reachplc.com.

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The 12 deadly London shootings in 2024 including 6 where the gunman remains at large

Last year, London gun crime increased by just under 20 per cent - rising from 1,009 offences in 2022 to 1,208 in 2023. But speaking to reporters outside New Scotland Yard in June, Commander Paul Brogden insisted 'serious' incidents are down. Fatal shootings had fallen by 40 per cent, from 15 homicides in 2022 to nine in 2023, he said.

Six months later the Met is facing a 33 per cent rise in fatal gun incidents over the last year. The latest victim was 44-year-old Michelle Sadio, killed in a drive-by shooting outside a wake in West London. This year the force has also dealt with the fall out from the non-fatal shooting of a nine-year-old girl at a cafe in Dalston, the gunning down of an eight-year-old girl in Ladbroke Grove, and the accidental shot-gun blast to a pub window in Clapham.

Cdr Brogden explained criminals were increasingly using converted guns, which were originally designed to fire blanks. Of the 386 firearms which were recovered in the capital in 2023, 46 per cent of them were converted weapons. The blank-firing guns are often sold legitimately to be used in drama productions or farming, but criminals are illegally converting them into lethal weapons.

While the stats show a year-on-year increase, the outlook is less bleak when set against historical standards. In 2003, the peak year for homicides in London with 216, Met Police data records 28 were shootings. The number of fatal shootings rose to 30 in 2007, but that has dropped significantly since 2010 with an average of around 10 fatal shootings per year.

On the state of gun crime in the UK, Action on Armed Violence, a charity that presents research to the United Nations, concluded: "Gun-related homicides, while stable, remain a concern but at a much lower incidence than knife-related cases."

The charity recommends understanding demographic disparities, improving socio-economic conditions, enhancing community support, and addressing domestic violence to mitigate the impact of gun and knife violence in the UK more generally.

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South London teacher banned after having sex with teenage student in his home and hotels

A South London science teacher who showed an 'appalling breach of trust' has been banned from the profession after having sex with a 16-year-old pupil in his home and hotels. Robert Hanna, who was sentenced to three years in prison for the relationship, has now been told he will not teach again.

On November 29, 2024, the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) decided Hanna should be permanently banned. Hanna grooming and inappropriate relationship with the pupil - referred to by the TRA as Pupil A - began after she finished their GCSEs.

Hanna initially arranged a social meeting with Pupil A and some other pupils, then began messaging Pupil A via social media. On one occasion the two kissed then began having sex, including at his flat which he shared with his partner of 17 years. The improper relationship continued for a time after Pupil A began studying for their A levels.

Things came crashing down on Hanna after Pupil A found the courage to inform a teacher of what had been happening and the school immediately suspended him. Hanna was arrested and charged with a number of crimes that year, to which he pleaded not guilty.

He was convicted at a trial in 2021 where Pupil A gave evidence. Hanna was convicted of causing/inciting sexual activity while in a position of trust. He was sentenced to three years behind bars. Hanna appealed against the length of his sentence but this appeal was thrown out. However, his appeal against a sexual harm prevention order was allowed.

Panel Chair David Oatley said: “Mr Robert Hanna is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Hanna shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.”

A spokesperson for the school where Hanna previously taught said: “Robert Hanna’s behaviour amounts to an appalling breach of trust and an abuse of his position in our school. As soon as a disclosure was made to us, we ensured that he was immediately suspended, and the appropriate authorities were informed.

“We have been working with the survivor, their family, the police and Local Authority to bring Hanna to justice. He betrayed their trust and ours. We are grateful for this outcome, which will further protect and safeguard pupils from harmful behaviour."

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