Ulez: London mayor Sadiq Khan hails High Court ruling

The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) across London can go ahead after the High Court ruled it lawful.

Five Conservative-led councils had challenged the Labour mayor of London's plans to charge older, more polluting vehicles £12.50 a day from 29 August.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told the BBC: "This landmark decision is good news as it means we can proceed with cleaning up the air in outer London."

Surrey Council's leader branded the decision "incredibly disappointing".

The judge, Mr Justice Swift, said the mayor's expansion decision "was within his powers".

He wrote: "Having carefully considered the decision published for the purposes of consultation, I'm satisfied sufficient information was provided to permit this wanting to respond to the consultation to provide informed responses.

"I'm further satisfied that when taking the decision on the grant to meet the cost of the vehicle scrappage scheme, the mayor understood the likely provision that would be made.

"While the consultation conducted was not in-depth, it was lawful."

The Ulez currently covers the area between the North and South Circulars, but this judgment means it will be spread across Greater London from the end of August.

When it was first introduced in 2019, the zone covered the Congestion Charge area in central London, then was enlarged in October 2021.

The new borders of the zone will reach Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey. Drivers can check if their vehicles meet the emission standards on the Transport for London website.

City Hall has said that 90% of cars seen driving in outer London complied with Ulez standards, which has been backed by the UK Statistics Authority - although the watchdog criticised the mayor over data transparency.

Mr Khan said: "The decision to expand the Ulez was very difficult, and not something I took lightly, and I continue to do everything possible to address any concerns Londoners may have.

"This unambiguous decision today in the High Court allows us to press on with the difficult but vital task of cleaning up London's air and tackling the climate crisis."

On Wednesday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged the mayor to reflect on the expansion in the wake of a by-election victory for the Conservatives in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, which he said was due to the "impact it's having on people".

Speaking after the court ruling, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the BBC his government would strive to meet net zero without "unnecessarily adding costs and burdens to families".

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the Ulez expansion was "about raising money", adding that this was "part of the reason why we had the result we did in the Uxbridge by-election.

"Londoners can see what this is, and they don't like it, and the mayor of London should listen to them."

The legal action was launched by February by the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon, as well as Surrey County Council.

Tim Oliver, leader of Surrey Council, said: "Whilst we respect today's court decision, it is incredibly disappointing."

Bromley Council leader, Colin Smith, said: "To the legion of families who will now have to trade in perfectly good cars at significant cost they can't really afford, for a newer vehicle they don't want or need, I can only say sorry.

"We've tried our very hardest to protect you but ultimately, today's judgement does mean that the mayor has taken another step closer to getting his way."

Harrow, Surrey and Bromley, which spent £32,000 contesting the expansion, have confirmed they will not appeal against the court's decision.

Air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, can cause and worsen respiratory problems like asthma, and can affect those with heart conditions, according to multiple scientific studies.

Dr Anna Moore, a respiratory doctor working at a London hospital, called Ulez a health policy which was "going to improve the health of millions of Londoners".

She said: "I see patients suffer from the effects of toxic air week in and week out. There is no organ in the body which is not harmed by air pollution."

Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC, said: "While the principle of cleaning up London's air is the right one, it has come at a time where drivers can ill afford to replace their vehicles during a cost-of-living crisis.

"This is being made by worse by new evidence which shows drivers are having to pay far more than they should have to purchase a compliant vehicle on the second-hand car market."

Steve Tuckwell, the newly elected MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, said: "Uxbridge and South Ruislip sent Mayor Sadiq Khan a clear message last week - 'halt your Ulez expansion'.

"Londoners cannot go on being ignored by the Labour Party, who are making the choice to expand Ulez, saddling families and businesses with a £4,500 a year charge - a tax on carers, parents, patients, sole traders and all hard-working Londoners."

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