Khan’s Ulez cameras could police future ‘pay as you drive’ scheme

SADIQ KHAN is plotting to use the traffic cameras bought to police the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) to help run a future “pay-as-you drive” scheme in London.

In an answer to the London Assembly earlier this week, Mr Khan revealed he had asked Transport for London to look into developing a scheme which would use more “sophisticated technology” to charge road users. He added: “ANPR (automatic numberplate recognition) cameras could form part of the potential operation of such a scheme but no proposals have been developed.”

The Greater London Authority Conservatives say the comments show the mayor’s plans for a camera network are part of a long-term goal to impose road user charging.

TfL plans to install 2,750 additional cameras across outer London ahead of August’s Ulez expansion, with 300 already put up across some boroughs.

Last November, Mr Khan hinted he was looking at a system like that in Singapore, where sensors on gantries monitor cars’ movements, charging more for travelling at peak times.

Charging plans were thrown back into the spotlight this week when Christina Calderato, TfL’s strategy director, was questioned at an Assembly transport committee meeting. She said TfL was keen to introduce charging at the “earliest possible stage” but said a dialogue with Londoners was needed.

The Assembly has also just launched a consultation on road user charging.

There are concerns any road user charging scheme could mean additional costs for London drivers. The mayor can only change London-based charging schemes, and drivers would still have to pay national taxes on vehicles.

A spokesman for the mayor said a scheme could take into account factors such as local public transport availability, employment and income.

They added: “Any formal proposals which could be developed in the future would be subject to consultation.”