Town halls accuse TfL of installing ULEZ cameras ‘by stealth’
By Grant Williams, Local Democracy Reporter
Four London councils challenging the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion are ‘furious’ with Transport for London (TfL) as cameras and signs have been “popping up overnight without warning” in their boroughs.
The councils have accused TfL of installing the cameras “by stealth”, and claim doing so without notification indicates the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s intent to “ride roughshod” over the outer boroughs.
Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, and Hillingdon have brought legal action following plans to expand the ULEZ into outer London from August.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says the expansion will reduce emissions and improve air quality in the capital. The council is waiting to hear whether the case will proceed to a hearing.
A joint statement released by the council’s said: “Some residents appear to have mistakenly assumed the appearance of the cameras was a sign that the boroughs have reneged on their position and cowed to the Mayor’s will. The coalition would like to make it abundantly clear that this is not the case.
“The four boroughs remain resolutely opposed to the proposed expansion and will not be doing anything to aid installation of ULEZ cameras or signage while their challenge remains unheard in the courts.”
Leader of Bexley council, Teresa O’Neill, is furious that equipment has been installed whilst the legal challenge is still being considered.
She said: “We understand that they are planning to install new and replacement signs in some parts of our borough this week.”
She added: “We know that local people and businesses will feel that their genuine concerns are once again being ignored by the Mayor of London.”
A TfL spokesperson said: “The Mayor has been clear that his decision to expand the ULEZ should be implemented without delay when around 4,000 Londoners are dying prematurely every year due to toxic air, children are growing up with stunted lungs and thousands of people in our city are developing life-changing illnesses attributable to pollution, such as cancer, lung disease, dementia and asthma.
“We are working closely and collaboratively with the local authorities concerned to install the infrastructure needed. Where cameras and signs have been installed, all the correct permitting processes have been followed.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, said: “The Mayor continues to urge the councils involved in the Judicial Review to abandon this costly and unnecessary legal challenge and instead focus on the health of those they represent.”
(Picture: Harrow council)
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The whole case for limiting the use of cars is based on statistics taken in the most congested parts of London. Most outer London roads are rarely congested and often being more hilly and with many more green spaces the air tends to be cleaner than in the centre. The prevalence of lichens and mosses which do not grow in polluted air proves the point. If the imposition of this self serving legislation does not drastically reduce the level of lung problems and dementia, will the GLA compensate those who have taken a severe financial hit because of his policy? The Mayor’s logic is flawed and his tendency to override democratic procedures should be resisted by democrats everywhere