Ulez rebels are putting lives at risk, says Khan

SADIQ KHAN has warned that councils rebelling against the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) will be responsible for hundreds of deaths if they are successful in blocking the plan.

In a letter to the four outer London councils considering a legal challenge to block the expansion, Mr Khan calls on them to stop the action and instead tells them to think of the “hundreds of bereaved families” in the boroughs because of pollution.

The mayor writes: “I urge you to do the right thing by focusing on the health of those you represent, including the children in your borough growing up with stunted lungs, and the hundreds of bereaved families in your borough, grieving because their loved ones have lost their lives.”

The letter comes after the boroughs of Bromley, Bexley, Harrow and Hillingdon banded together to look at launching a legal challenge against Mr Khan’s plan, sending the mayor a preaction protocol letter last month outlining their intention. The mayor said he expected any challenge to be unsuccessful and that instead of pursuing expensive legal challenges funded by local residents, they should focus on helping to clean up the dirty air blighting the city.

The Ulez zone is set be expanded from Aug 29 and will lead to drivers being charged £12.50 in all 32 boroughs if their vehicles do not meet emissions standards.

‘Do the right thing by focusing on the health of those you represent’

The policy has faced widespread opposition, with eight councils refusing to sign an agreement that would allow the mayor to install new camera infrastructure to police the zone. This includes the four boroughs considering legal action.

In his letter, Mr Khan points to research by Imperial College London, which showed that Bromley was the area with the highest premature deaths linked to air pollution, with an estimated 204 lives lost in 2019.

A spokesman for the four boroughs said that the consortium would not be commentating while it was receiving legal advice.