ULEZ: Lib Dem MP tables Parliament motion to delay Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion

A west London Liberal Democrat MP has tabled an early day motion in Parliament, calling on the mayor of London to delay the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion and provide greater support for Londoners.

Murina Wilson, MP for Twickenham, also calls on the government to fund a scrappage scheme for the home counties, similar to those delivered in cities including Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester.

Few early day motions are debated in Parliament, but they are often used to draw public attention to particular topics.

The ULEZ is due to expand on August 29, from which date it will extend from covering inner London to the whole of the capital. Once implemented, most of those driving non-compliant vehicles in the zone will be liable to pay a £12.50 daily charge.

Ms Wilson’s motion recognises the need to improve the air quality in London, though notes several concerns regarding Sadiq Khan’s plans to expand the scheme.

These include the speed at which it is being implemented, with a period of eight months between announcing the extension and it being introduced, the size of the scrappage scheme supporting those having to transition to cleaner vehicles, and what she sees as a failure to consider “people’s different transport needs in London’s suburbs”.

Ms Wilson said: “Transitioning to greener vehicles is the right choice for our climate and for the air we breathe, but forcing these plans through now can only be described as reckless. We hope the mayor will heed Liberal Democrat calls to ensure a properly funded scrappage scheme and a longer lead time.”

A spokesperson for the mayor said the ULEZ is known to work “as it’s already allowed more than four million people to breathe cleaner air in inner London and harmful emissions have been cut by nearly half in central London”.

They said Transport for London (TfL) data shows 90% of cars seen driving in outer London on an average day already meet the ULEZ standards, and for those that do not, Mr Khan’s 110m scrappage scheme is due to be extended to support more Londoners.

Lib Dem London Assembly Member (AM) Caroline Pidgeon tabled a budget amendment earlier this year in which a cross-party group called on Mr Khan to double his scrappage scheme to £220m. However, it was voted down by Labour assembly members.

Ms Wilson’s motion notes the government has not provided support for those living in the home counties, despite having done so in other places introducing low-emission zones in England, and calls for a scrappage scheme targeted at residents based just outside the capital.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which would fund such a scheme, said: “Responsibility for air quality is devolved to the mayor of London and funded separately. It is for the mayor to consider the impact his initiatives in London may have on drivers and whether a scrappage scheme is needed, and then budget appropriately. The government has committed over £6 billion to secure the long-term future of London’s transport network.”