London boroughs to risk millions battling Ulez plans

CASH-STRAPPED London boroughs are poised to spend millions of pounds fighting Sadiq Khan’s expansion of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez).

The roll-out of the controversial £12.50-a-day charge risks being delayed by a number of legal battles as council leaders rebel against the zone being expanded to include Greater London.

Four boroughs are this weekend weighing up whether to go to the High Court to try to block Mr Khan’s plans.

Meanwhile, other councils have vowed to prevent Ulez cameras being installed – which could lead to them being challenged in the courts by the mayor, say Conservative party sources.

The boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Hillingdon and Harrow last week announced plans to join forces to explore a possible Judicial Review.

Local authority leaders have been warned that the legal challenge could land them with a “multimillion pound legal bill” because, if they lose, councils would have to pay the mayor’s costs as well as their own.

Councils are already facing financial difficulties. The Housing Department agreed a £9million bailout for Bexley Council in 2021, Bromley is facing a multimillion-pound education budget deficit, Hillingdon has been warned it “could go bust” and Harrow has been forced to cut budgets to balance its books.

Last year, 59 per cent of respondents to a public consultation opposed an expansion of Ulez. The decision for the four councils whether or not to launch a Judicial Review is expected to hinge on responses by Transport for London to questions from the councils’ lawyers. The responses are expected by Friday.

The dissenting boroughs believe the mayor may have used flawed pollution statistics to support his plans. It is further believed that Ulez expansion could breach “equalities” legislation because it prevents disabled people from travelling freely, sources added.