ULEZ expansion: Judicial review to be held over plans

A judicial review is to be held into Sadiq Khan's plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across London.

Five Conservative-led councils - Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and Surrey - launched legal action over the expanded scheme which is due to begin at the end of August.

The High Court has granted for the case to proceed on two out of five grounds of their appeal.

The mayor's office said the expansion plans would continue "without delay".

A spokesperson for Mr Khan said the mayor was "pleased to see the court has refused permission for the majority of the grounds".

"We will continue to robustly defend his life-saving decision to expand the ULEZ and continue with preparations without delay."

They added it was "a shame that some local authorities have chosen to attempt this costly and misguided legal challenge instead of focusing on the health of those they represent".

The current scheme covers all parts of city between the North and South Circular roads, but London's mayor previously announced it would be expanded to cover the whole of the capital from 29 August.

People who drive in the zone in a non-compliant vehicle will need to pay a daily charge of £12.50.

You can check if your vehicle meets the emission standards on the Transport for London website.

The five councils served the mayor of London with a pre-action protocol letter on 12 January, which stated there were five grounds for a judicial review.

The High Court has ruled there was sufficient evidence on two of the grounds for the case to proceed to trial on the basis that the ULEZ extension may be unlawful.

These related to claims there was a failure to follow statutory procedures and a failure to consider the potential for inclusion of non-Londoners in the new £110m scrappage scheme.

Those eligible for help from the scrappage scheme can get up to £2,000 for scrapping a car or up to £1,000 for scrapping a motorcycle. For wheelchair-accessible vehicles there is a grant of up to £5,000.

Responding to the confirmation of the judicial review, Tim Oliver, leader of Surrey County Council, said: "The impact on Surrey's residents and businesses has been ignored by the mayor and it's frankly disgraceful that it's taken legal proceedings to have our voices heard."

Leader of Bexley Council, Teresa O'Neill, said: "It was never about air quality and we believe it would have disastrous consequences for many of our residents and businesses, as well as others who regularly travel into the borough. We hope that today's decision moves us a step closer to stopping the mayor's money-making scheme."

Colin Smith, the leader of Bromley Council, argued that Bromley was already a "healthy borough by virtually every measurement".

"There is still time for the mayor to pull back and take a more considered approach which takes outer London's differing needs and circumstances into account," he added.

Nick Rogers AM, City Hall Conservatives transport spokesperson, said: "The mayor clearly does not have the legal grounds to proceed with his ULEZ tax plans, which take money from charities, small businesses and low income Londoners who cannot afford a new car."

He called on the mayor to "do the right thing, immediately stop work on his ULEZ expansion, and explain his actions to the court".

The hearing is expected to take place in July.

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