ULEZ expansion: Decision expected by end of 2022, Sadiq Khan hints

Londoners can expect a decision on the ULEZ expansion by the end of the year, Sadiq Khan hinted today, but warned a delay could “be in the mix”.

The capital’s ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) is a 24-hour a day £12.50 charging zone that currently operates within central and inner London.

Khan is seeking to expand the scheme to cover outer London, meaning more drivers will be subject to the charge unless their vehicle meets low emission standards.

It’s part of a City Hall drive to clean up London’s air, sparked by research that most pollution linked deaths take place in outer boroughs.

Consultation on the scheme ended in July but has recently sparked controversy after the Telegraph published claims certain views were being excluded from consideration.

Now the mayor has hit back at calls for greater transparency over the project, slated to be introduced from August 2023, if approved.

He told the London assembly that Transport for London (TfL) are compiling a “comprehensive report” on the consultation, produced by an independent third party expert.

“This work is underway,” he said. “I expect to receive the reports for my consideration and to publish my subsequent decisions by the end of the year.”

And the mayor said he was sure a delay was “one of the things that will be in the mix when it comes to TfL analysing the responses or when it comes to me in due course.”

Asked by Neil Garrett, from the GLA Conservative group, whether that meant the calendar year ending in December, or the civil year ending in April 2023, he said: “December… that’s the calendar year. The end of this year is not the civic year, it’s the calendar year.”

Fellow City Hall Tories urged Mr Khan to open the consultation process to “public scrutiny” ahead of the reports being compiled. But the mayor insisted he would wait for the full report.

Neil Garrett said: “It sounds to me like you’re ignoring the fact there are serious concerns being raised right now about this consultation and the way it’s being handled.”

“We’ve had multiple whistleblowers come forward to express their concerns. It’s incumbent on you to allay those concerns and open the process to scrutiny.”

But Khan replied: “If TfL published in real time before a recommendation is made, they’d be criticised and challenged for haste. They’re damned if they do, and damned if they don’t.”

Peter Fortune added: “What’s distressing the Cons is the notion that many Londoners’ voices have been squashed.”

But Conservatives are also calling for the expansion to be called off entirely - highlighting the cost of living crisis and financial pressures on low-income families and small businesses.

Neil Garrett said: “Cost of living pressures have grown… People out there are struggling.

“Families having to choose between heating and eating, additionally some are thinking, if they get through the fuel bills this winter, by August you’re requiring them to buy a new car.

“Could you take that wait off their mind today and tell them you’re not going to go ahead?”

But Mr Khan again insisted he would wait for the full TfL report before making up his mind.

He said: “I’ve explained the consultation has ended. TfL are looking at the responses, there will be analysis undertaken and a recommendation will come to me by the end of the year.

“I’m now being asked will I rule out the expansion taking place in August and the answer is I’ve not made up my mind until I see the report and the analysis done by TfL.

“I take your representations about a delay - I suspect you’re not the first person to have suggested that in the consultation responses.

“I’m sure that’s one of the things that will be in the mix when it comes to TfL analysing the responses or when it comes to me in due course.”

The TfL report will include a full rundown of the consultation responses as well as an impact assessment and other relevant material, the mayor said.

Speaking after the meeting, GLA transport spokesperson Nick Rogers said it was down to the mayor to decide what form of public scrutiny he opened the consultation to.

He added: “£250m to spend on expanding ULEZ buys you a great big camera network. By definition, the returns on that, the benefit from that, will reduce over time as people change their vehicles.

“You could be expanding the emission free bus fleet or the emission free bus zones.”