The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is pushing for an expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) that will cover all of Greater London.
This currently has a scheduled start date of Tuesday 29th August, and will see residents across Surrey being charged £12.50 per day, if their vehicle does not meet emission standards set out by TfL, whether the journey is for a 20-mile commute, or a short trip for essential groceries.
LATEST UPDATE: 29th August 2023 - ULEZ charges come into effect from today
The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone by Sadiq Khan and TfL comes into effect from today. People driving non-compliant vehicles into and around Greater London will now face a daily £12.50 charge. Commenting, Cllr Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Growth at Surrey County Council said:
"I am incredibly disappointed that expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone has gone ahead today and the impact this will have on many of our residents as they go about everyday, essential journeys... We continue to urge The Mayor and TfL to do what is right and extend the scrappage scheme outside of London for those that are impacted, provide exemption for key workers, and provide more and better bus routes between Surrey and London."
27th August 2023 - Legal ruling, brought to court by scaffolder Noel Willcox, has won a ruling that TfL's Lez (Low Emission Zone) signs are not lawful
Under TfL's Lez, certain vans and HGVs are liable to pay up to £300 a day, however, Noel refused to pay these charges and an appeal tribunal ruled in his favour. The legal ruling stated that under the Road Traffic Act, if there is a risk motorists will be charged in entering an area, the motorist must be clearly informed of these charges.
The Lez signs fail to outline any potential charges to motorists, and instead simply state that you are in an Lez zone. The winning lawyer for Noel's case, Nick Freeman, stated:
"... the signs are neither use nor ornament. They are not fit for purpose and might as well not be there.
“Because this was a hearing at the first level it is not legally binding. But it is what’s known as ‘persuasive’, which means it can be used in other cases.
“I believe the tribunal made the right ruling and TfL have got it wrong. In my view there is insufficient information on the signs. They don’t comply with the regulations
“It speaks volumes that TfL were given an opportunity to produce evidence that these signs were compliant with the Traffic Signs and Directions 2016 and they completely ignored it. They had the chance to appeal but they didn’t do that. Instead they sent the bailiffs after Noel Willcox, which shows total contempt.”
This ruling now asks serious questions on the Mayor of London and TfL's ULEZ signs that been recently put up, as other motorists can use the same ruling in similar cases if TfL brings charges against them.
26th August 2023 - GMB Union issues plea to Mayor of London to delay implementing the ULEZ expansion
Trevlyn McLeod, GMB's London Region Organiser, has publicly criticised the implementation of TfL's ULEZ expansion in an interview with LBC, saying that: "People are angry, people are absolutely angry, and so are our members who can’t afford £12.50 a day or to buy a new car". Ms McLeod went further, adding that the policy would directly impact GMB members as "it's been done by stealth, it’s going to affect the average person”.
16th August 2023 - Home counties refuse to enter into a Section 8 Agreement with TfL, after spiralling costs of Mayor's scheme unveiled
In order for TfL to install signage and cameras on roads outside of Greater London, a Section 8 Agreement is required from the relevant local authority. In Surrey, the County Council is refusing to enter this agreement until meaningful any mitigation measures are put in place to minimise the impact on Surrey residents.
3rd August 2023 - Mayor of London to extend grant and scrappage scheme following pressure from Conservative Councils
Sustained pressure from Conservative led Councils has caused Sadiq Khan to expand the ULEZ grant and scrappage scheme. Previously, the basic grant for a car or van was only available to certain individuals, but will now be extended to all households in Greater London. This will allow people with a non-ULEZ compliant vehicle eligible for a basic grant of £2,000 towards the cost of replacing their vehicle.
28th July 2023 - High Court denies coalition’s ULEZ expansion challenge
The High Court delivered it's verdict today stating the Mayor of London and TfL's planned expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone to all of Greater London was lawful and can go ahead as planned next month. The expansion of ULEZ is now expected to go ahead as planned on Tuesday 29 August, with anyone driving a non-compliant vehicle in the expanded zone expected to pay £12.50 per day.
26th July 2023 - Surrey Heath Conservatives propose a motion for Surrey Heath Borough Council to object to ULEZ expansion to outer London
Cllr Jonny Cope brought forward a motion at the Full Council meeting of Surrey Heath Borough (26th July 2023) for the Council to oppose the Mayor of London's extension of the ULEZ to the boundary of Greater London.
The motion proposed that the Mayor rethink this flawed policy and instead invest in improving the public transport network in outer London to make it easier for people to make more sustainable transport choices and asked the Leader of Surrey Heath Borough Council to write to Sadiq Khan to express the Council's opposition to ULEZ expansion to outer London and call on the Mayor to cancel it entirely.
21st July 2023 - TfL announces scrapping daily travelcards after being instructed to do so by Sadiq Khan
Sadiq Khan has instructed TfL to cease the sale of travelcards from January next year, and currently, no alternative has been offered. This will result in individuals travelling into London having to pay higher ticket fares when travelling into and around the capital city.
This announcement comes as a blow to individuals that regularly travel into the capital, particularly at a time when the ULEZ expansion is set to come into effect and individuals are meant to be encouraged to use public transport as an alternative.
With TfL stating that this move will raise an estimated £40 million in revenue, combined with ULEZ expansion, this seems yet another money making measure by the Mayor targeting those that are unable to vote him out of office.
London Travelwatch has stated that it is "particularly concerned it will have the most impact on lower income Londoners and those travelling in from outside of London" as well as the potential impact on disabled travellers.
July 2023 - High Court Challenge
Surrey County Council, alongside representatives from the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon, brought forward it's legal action against the Mayor of London and TfL at the High Court (Tuesday 4th May). This Judicial Review, over planned expansion of the ULEZ across all of Greater London, will see the coalition argue it's case against the expansion on three grounds:
- Failure to follow statutory procedure - Schedule 23 Greater London Authority Act 1999
- Unlawful and unfair consultation regarding expected compliance rates in outer London
- Unlawfulness regarding scrappage scheme, including failing to consider a buffer zone, irrationality and inadequate consultation.
May 2023 - High Court allows further grounds for challenge as part of Judicial Review
The High Court announced on 26th May it will allow further grounds for challenge as part of a Judicial Review by a coalition of councils into the proposed expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). At the hearing, the coalition comprising the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Hillingdon and Harrow, along with Surrey County Council was successful in its appeal, getting two additional grounds for challenge – out of three previously refused in April – added to the Judicial Review.
Those were:
- unfair and unlawful consultation in relation to expected compliance rates in outer London
- scrappage scheme – irrationality due to uncertainty and inadequate consultation.
On 12 April 2023 the High Court granted permission for the coalition to challenge the legality of Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London’s plans to expand the ULEZ to outer London from August 2023.
The permission then was granted on the following grounds:
- failure to comply with relevant statutory requirements
- whether the Mayor properly considered the previous “buffer zone” approach as a material consideration in relation to the scrappage scheme.
Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Growth at Surrey County Council said:
“Today’s decision is another step forward in our legal challenge to the Mayor of London, as we continue to highlight the significant financial and social impacts expansion of the ULEZ scheme would have on many of our residents and businesses.
“Our consultation response back in July 2022 clearly highlighted that the Mayor’s decision not to include Surrey residents in any scrappage scheme was unacceptable, and proposed a number of other recommendations to help mitigate the impacts of the expansion. Our concerns have still not been addressed by The Mayor, forcing these legal proceedings to have the voice of our residents heard.
“We remain committed to delivering a greener future, but it must be done in a practical and sustainable way. We will now await the findings of the Judicial Review in July.”
April 2023 - Surrey wins the first stage of the legal battle against the London Mayor
Surrey County Council (SCC), alongside four London Boroughs opposing Sadiq's ULEZ expansion, has won the first stage of the legal battle against the Mayor.
Today (Wednesday 12th April) the High Court has ruled the Mayor of London's “failure to take into account a material consideration due to failure to consider the potential for inclusion of non-Londoners in the new scrappage scheme” has sufficient evidence to go to trial.
The impact on Surrey’s residents and businesses has been ignored by Sadiq. Whilst it is unfortunate that it has taken legal proceedings for the Mayor to sit down and address the concerns raised by SCC over the expansion, it is good news that our voices are now being heard.
The consultation response in July 2022 clearly highlighted that the Mayor’s decision failing to include Surrey residents in any scrappage scheme was unacceptable, and proposed a number of other recommendations to help mitigate both the financial and potential environmental impacts of the expansion.
SCC remains committed to delivering a greener future, but it must be done in a practical and sustainable way. We now await the findings of the Judicial Review.
February 2023 - Surrey launches a Judicial Review to challenge TfL and the Mayor of London
A coalition of five councils has today (Thursday 16 February) launched a Judicial Review to challenge Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London’s decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to outer London boroughs.
Cllr Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council said: “We are committed to delivering a greener future, but it must be done in a practical and sustainable way. We are dismayed at the lack of discussion or consideration given to these proposals by the Mayor of London. The impact on many Surrey residents and businesses will be significant and we will not stand by and watch that happen with no mitigations offered from the Mayor.”
January 2023 - Surrey says NO to the London Mayor's ULEZ Expansion
In response to concerns expressed by Surrey residents on the Mayor of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone proposals, Cllr Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Growth, has written to the Mayor of London to confirm that SCC has instructed it's officers to halt any discussions on signage locations.
A Section 8 Agreement (permission to place equipment on Surrey’s highways) is required by the Mayor and TfL. SCC will not facilitate these signs and cameras being installed until meaningful mitigation is offered by the Mayor, and a constructive conversation is held between TfL and SCC, given the significant concern and opposition the proposed ULEZ expansion has generated in the county.
