ULEZ: Which councils outside London will refuse to allow Sadiq Khan and TfL’s cameras and signs on roads?

All bar one of the councils bordering London say they will refuse to install or allow the installation of Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) signage, LondonWorld can reveal.

Hertfordshire County Council this week declared it will “not permit any ULEZ signage or enforcement cameras to be located within the boundary of the county”.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Transport for London (TfL) are intending on expanding the ULEZ to cover the whole city from August 29, dependent on the outcome of a High Court challenge, a decision on which is expected today.

While receiving support from groups including doctors and environmental campaigners since announcing the expansion, Mr Khan has been subjected to strong opposition from several outer London boroughs.

Following the Conservatives just about holding on to the west London seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip in a recent by-election, the planned extension of the clean-air zone was cited as a potential reason behind Labour not flipping the constituency.

Despite public calls from senior Labour figures to “reflect” on the scheme, Mr Khan has indicated he will continue with his launch date. He has since received support from a number of London councillors, among others, in sticking with his proposed expansion.

Hertfordshire County Council

As well as its comment on the signs, Hertfordshire County Council called on the mayor to extend its scrappage scheme to include counties surrounding greater London.

In his letter to the mayor, council leader Richard Roberts wrote: “I would personally ask that you pause the expansion of the zone and look to redraw the zone boundary to align with outer London public transport hubs, providing those who cannot upgrade their vehicle with public transport options before having to absorb the proposed £12.50 per day cost of the expanded zone.”

Surrey County Council

A spokesperson for Surrey County Council, which borders London to the south, said it has informed TfL it will not allow ULEZ infrastructure to be installed on its highways.

Essex County Council

Essex County Council passed a motion earlier this month in which it called upon “the cabinet member for highways and sustainable transport to not permit any new ULEZ signage on Essex County Council land or highways, nor allow any existing ULEZ signage on Essex Highways property to be changed”.

Kent County Council

The most recent correspondence indicating opposition was from the leader of Kent County Council, Roger Gough, who wrote to Mr Khan yesterday (July 27) expressing his “dismay” at the expansion continuing unamended, without support for Kent residents affected by the plans.

As part of its opposition, the council said it will continue to block ULEZ warning signs from being placed in the county, adding while it has not been contacted about installing ULEZ cameras, if asked, it would refuse.

Thurrock Council, Essex

Earlier this month the leader of Thurrock Council, the other unitary authority bordering London, told a council meeting “we don’t want these signs up on our land”.

“As leader of the council I am saying no, we don’t want these signs up on our land,” said council leader Andew Jefferies, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“We are concerned by the way the legislation is written, they can override this. I’m determined the signs won’t go up unless we have some legal reason. We are in the process of trying to get legal advice to see if we can stop the signs from going up.”

Slough Borough Council, Berkshire

From the authorities LondonWorld spoke to, only the unitary authority Slough Borough Council, by far the smallest council boundary with the capital, has agreed to have ULEZ signs and cameras installed.

A spokesperson said: “We are allowing ULEZ signs and cameras just on our side of the borough boundary with London. We have by far the smallest boundary with London of all the neighbouring authorities.

“Slough is already a transport hub with excellent public transport to London – three mainline train stations, GWR, Elizabeth Line. Heathrow are funding some of the bus routes for residents to be able to commute to the airport.

“We have had some concerns about people driving to Slough and then using public transport onwards but the vast majority of commuting into London is done by public transport already.”

Buckinghamshire Council

Buckinghamshire Council has not provided a comment on signs and cameras at the time of publication.

In February, cabinet member for transport Steven Broadbent said: “We support intentions to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions and have our own strong plan to achieve this, but we don’t believe this is being carried out in the right way through the ULEZ expansion proposal and we have serious concerns about the impacts this expansion will have on both our residents and our roads.

“We believe that any development of the scheme must only be considered in tandem with enhanced provision and improvements to alternative transport options and full consideration being given to the knock-on effects any changes will have on the wider area.”

The mayor’s response

A spokesperson for Mr Khan said: “TfL and City Hall are working closely and collaboratively with the local authorities concerned to install the infrastructure needed.

“The mayor has been clear that while the decision to expand ULEZ was an incredibly difficult one, he could not stand by and do nothing while around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to air pollution, children are growing up with stunted lungs and thousands of people in our city are developing life-changing illnesses, such as cancer, lung disease, dementia and asthma.

“Nine out of 10 cars seen driving in outer London are compliant and won’t need to pay a penny. For anyone who is affected, help is available including thousands of pounds for people on low incomes, charities, small businesses, disabled Londoners and anyone in receipt of child benefit.

"Sadiq is committed to the expansion but is always listening and is happy to look at any new ideas for ways to mitigate the impact of expanding the ULEZ on Londoners while still tackling air quality and the climate crisis. He has listened to Londoners throughout this process and continues to do so – and he has already made a number of changes to expand the scrappage eligibility scheme, from the end of this month.”