Like many Croydonians, I remain extremely angry about the decision to dramatically extend the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) into Outer London.
I have consistently opposed the ULEZ expansion and previously wrote to Sadiq Khan setting out my opposition to his plans. In addition, Croydon Council submitted a detailed response to the TfL consultation making the case against expansion.
As part of our ongoing opposition to the scheme I refused to sign the usual section 8 co-operation agreement. Furthermore, I resisted attempts by TfL to use our lampposts and street furniture for ULEZ cameras and signage, and rejected several permit requests from TfL and the Mayor of London to do so.
Following the Council’s refusal to cooperate, TfL reported Croydon to the Highways Authorities and Utilities Committee UK (HAUC(UK)), which is the representative body that oversees the operation of highways permit schemes, condemning our actions and requesting that our permit granting powers be removed.
As a result if Croydon Council were to continue the refusal of TfL’s implementation of the ULEZ scheme it would be subject to adjudication, with the threat that our permit issuing powers could be affected.
TfL does of course have the legal power to install ULEZ cameras and signage on their own infrastructure, such as traffic signals, without reference to the Council.
However, Mayor Khan chose to invoke section 6 in the Statutory Guidance issued to London Boroughs by the London Mayor, which gives TfL ‘reserve powers’. This enables them to carry out direct work on street structures on London Borough roads, effectively overruling the Council. All London Boroughs are in the same position and Mayor Khan has ridden roughshod over local democracy, which is why we have seen ULEZ cameras and signage installed across the Borough.
The way to improve air quality is through investing in public transport to create modal shift. This is particularly the case in outer London where public transport accessibility is much more challenging. Much needed orbital routes are lacking and his lack of investment in our local tram system is resulting in reduced capacity. His proposed "Superloop" will offer very little help to residents in Coulsdon or New Addington. Mayor Khan should be putting proper investment into our public transport, rather than in cameras and signs for his ULEZ scheme - which his own analysis confirms will have a negligible impact on air quality in outer London.
It is not right that Mayor Khan is pushing through his ULEZ expansion despite clear opposition from local people and Councils in outer London, and I will now continue to advocate for its removal.
I am extremely pleased to see that Susan Hall AM, Conservative Candidate for Mayor of London, has promised to scrap the ULEZ expansion if she is elected as Mayor in May 2024. This is something I entirely support, and I urge residents of all political stripes to get behind her campaign.
