ULEZ: Councils bordering London provide update on whether they’re allowing TfL to put up signs on roads

With just under two weeks to go until the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is expanded in London, there has been no give from councils surrounding the capital in allowing signs to be placed on their land.

As reported by LondonWorld last month, all bar one of the local authorities bordering the city had said they will not permit Transport for London (TfL) and the mayor, Sadiq Khan, to install signage on their highways, warning drivers as they neared the capital.

Hertfordshire, Essex, Thurrock, Kent, Surrey and Buckinghamshire all said they were refusing, with Slough, which is by far the smallest local authority bordering London, being the only one allowing signs to be put up.

And now, with just 13 days to go until the ULEZ is expanded to cover all of greater London on August 29, each of the councils have confirmed to LondonWorld that none of their positions have changed.

A spokesperson for Slough said that while the council is against the scheme, it is permitting the signs to be installed. Each of the other councils however are continuing to refuse.

The ongoing prevention could pose a headache for Mr Khan as the expansion date gets closer. The BBC reported the mayor has specifically called on Surrey and Kent to “put their politics aside” and allow signs to be installed.

The RAC has also called on the local authorities to give, saying “it’s probably time for councils and the mayor to work together rather than against one another”.

A spokesperson for the mayor previously told LondonWorld that City Hall and TfL are “working closely and collaboratively with the local authorities concerned to install the infrastructure needed”.

They added the mayor had been clear the decision to expand was “an incredibly difficult one”, but necessary due to the impacts of air pollution in the capital.

Mr Khan recently tried to further mitigate the impacts of the ULEZ, which when expanded will mean all drivers in London with non-compliant vehicles will be liable for the daily £12.50 charge, by extending the scrappage scheme supporting those having to transition to cleaner transport.

He also urged the Home Counties to also set up their own scrappage schemes.

LondonWorld revealed last month that the government has “no power” to force councils to allow TfL permission, meaning it is wholly down to each authority as to whether authority is granted.