Sadiq Khan hails ULEZ expansion as 'landmark day' for London

26 August 2023 , 21:00

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The clean air scheme will be expanded from Tuesday (Image: PA)

The expansion of London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) will be a “landmark day” for the capital, Sadiq Khan has said.

The zone will grow to include all London boroughs from Tuesday, which the London Mayor said would “ensure every Londoner breathes cleaner air.”

“We’ve already seen huge progress since I announced the expansion. On the eve of the roll out 9 in 10 cars seen driving in the zone on an average day are already compliant and won’t pay a penny,” he said. “Financial help is available for every single Londoner and small business whose vehicle is not compliant.”

If your car is not compliant with ULEZ, you'll need to pay £12.50 each day you enter the zone. ULEZ operates seven days a week, except for Christmas Day, and is applicable against cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes) who do not comply with the current European emission standards.

Lorries, vans or specialist heavy vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes) and buses, minibuses and coaches (over 5 tonnes) need to pay the LEZ charge if they do not meet the LEZ emissions standard.

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The scheme has sparked noisy protests from some motorists - and was seized upon by the Tories in the recent Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election campaign. The Conservatives’ slim victory in the by-election prompted concern from some within Labour, with leader Keir Starmer saying the party needed to “learn the lessons” from their defeat.

“We’re doing something very wrong if policies put forward by the Labour party end up on each and every Tory leaflet,” he told the party’s National Policy Forum in July.

But Mr Khan vowed to press ahead with the expansion. “It was a very tough decision to expand the zone,” Mr Khan said. “But with toxic air leading to around 4,000 premature deaths each year and our children growing up with stunted lungs, it is the right thing to do.”

Mikey Smith