Croydon council to ‘do everything it can’ to prevent ULEZ

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

Croydon council will “do everything it can” to resist the roll-out of Transport for London (TfL) traffic cameras as the the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is expanded to cover the whole of London, the borough’s mayor has said.

It comes as the council has joined with other outer London boroughs to explore what legal action it could take against Transport for London’s £12.50 daily charge for some drivers.

Mayor of Croydon Jason Perry said: “We have opposed the ULEZ expansion from the start. In Croydon, the proposal doesn’t even improve the air quality by any great degree. The Mayor of London wants to charge people but is not offering any alternatives.

“We will resist TfL using our infrastructure but I am mindful that the mayor does have reserved powers to do these things. We will do everything we can to resist this particular policy.

“Outer boroughs are looking at a possible judicial review. I think we’ve got to do everything we can to try and stop this. It will impact on busiensses in outer London in particular.

“I know of people who have written to me who are carers who may live just over the border who will have to pay the £12.50 every time they come to look after their relative.”

TfL only owns around five per cent of the capital’s road network, the majority is owned by local councils. For the body to install the 2,750 cameras needed for the expanded ULEZ, individual boroughs will need to give permission for them to be installed.

Other Conservative councils have also come out against the plans.

In a joint statement Hillingdon, Bexley and Bromley councils said: “Until we have seen compelling evidence to the contrary, it remains our position that this scheme will not translate successfully to outer London and the negative impact to local households and economies will far outweigh the negligible air quality benefits.”

But TfL commissioner Andy Lord has warned blocking cameras could turn those borough’s into rat-runs.

He said: “If boroughs refuse to engage and we get into a delay in one area, the risk is that those boroughs see increased traffic.”

Pictured top: ULEZ sign (Picture: James Mayer)