Sadiq Khan is facing a growing backlash over ULEZ expansion plans

S

adiq Khan is facing a growing backlash over plans to extend the ultra-low emission zone to cover the whole of London, with Conservatives at City Hall describing the potential positive impact as “minimal”.

As a public consultation on the plans closes on Friday, City Hall has released new figures which show five million people on the fringes of London will breathe cleaner air as a result of the ULEZ being extended to cover the whole of Greater London. Of these, 340,000 Londoners will live in areas that meet World Health Organization targets for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels for the first time.

But a TfL paper published earlier this month found that the initial expansion of the area to the north and south ring roads last October had a “limited” impact on pollution levels, questioning the potential impact of further expansion.

Conservative assembly member Sean Bailey, who has clashed with Sadiq Khan several times in the 2021 mayoral election, said ULEZ was “a story of a mayor looking for a legacy” and questioned the estimated £200m price tag for the – the further expansion of the area.

Mr Bailey said: “Given that any positive impact on the environment will be marginal at best, the impressive £200m price tag could be much better spent on schemes that will actually improve the air in London.

READ MORE

“It is imperative that any tolling work is done in partnership with the Government to ensure that London is part of a national scheme that is revenue neutral. Londoners cannot be expected to shoulder the financial burden of Khan’s legacy and pay twice to implement a scheme that has not been well thought out.

The Mayor of London said it was “indisputable” that the initial ULEZ expansion last year had been a success, with 67,000 fewer non-compliant vehicles on the road and 21,000 fewer vehicles overall.

Mr Khan said it was important to take “bold action” to improve air quality for everyone, not just those living in central London.

Mr Khan said: “Deadly air pollution contributes to the development of stunted lungs in children, asthma and a whole host of other health problems and new research shows it also puts people at increased risk of developing dementia. We must act now to protect the most vulnerable from the worst effects of toxic air and build a safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous city for all.”

Londoners have until the end of Friday 29 July to respond to TfL’s public consultation on plans to expand the Greater London ULEZ.