The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced last Friday (25 November), that he will expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) London-wide to tackle the triple threats of air pollution, the climate emergency and congestion, and to ensure five million more Londoners can breathe cleaner air.
This will come into effect on Tuesday 29 August 2023 and will operate across all London boroughs up to the existing Low Emission Zone boundary.
In a joint statement from Hillingdon, Harrow, Bexley and Croydon councils, Hillingdon Council Leader, Cllr Ian Edwards, said: “Hillingdon remains vehemently opposed to these half-baked plans and we will do everything in our power to stop it from going ahead.
“London cannot be treated with a one-size-fits-all approach when the make-up of inner boroughs is incredibly different to ours.
“Unlike urban parts of the capital, our residents don’t have the luxury of a frequent, multi-layered transport system. Many have little option other than to use their cars for everyday travel. Imposing the ULEZ charge is not only wrongheaded but is completely unfair and will hit the poorest in our communities hardest. What Hillingdon really needs is not another tax but increased investment in its public transport links.
“There are better ways of improving our air quality and the Mayor of London should be doing all he can to boost London’s recovery rather than implementing this money grab from those that can least afford it.”
In the statement, the four councils resolved to work with other outer London boroughs to resist its implementation by using all means at their disposal.
