ULEZ: Lib Dem leader Ed Davey urged Sadiq Khan to move ULEZ boundary ahead of expansion

Liberal Democrat leader and MP for Kingston and Surbiton, Ed Davey, urged Sadiq Khan not to include part of his constituency within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), it has been revealed.

On Tuesday, August 29, the ULEZ expanded from the North and South Circular roads to cover the whole of greater London. Most drivers of non-compliant vehicles within the extended zone now have to pay a £12.50 daily charge, in a bid to clean up the capital’s air.

The decision to widen the zone has drawn opposition from some quarters, with multiple protests held and ongoing vandalism to cameras installed as part of the scheme.

In a letter dated August 23, Mr Davey wrote to the mayor requesting he not include Hook and Chessington in the ULEZ, due to its “unique” geography and the “unfair” impact on its residents and businesses.

Located within Mr Davey’s constituency, Hook and Chessington is shaped like a “peninsula”, he wrote, and largely borders Surrey, not London.

Furthermore, the area has “poor public transport”, and reports fairly low air pollution, he added.

The Liberal Democrats have previously called for the ULEZ expansion to be delayed, a position Mr Davey referenced in his letter.

Acknowledging Mr Khan however was intending on extending the zone as-planned, the Lib Dem leader asked the mayor “to move the ULEZ boundary to the A3 at the Hook roundabout, rather than needlessly including the “peninsula” of Hook and Chessington”.

Asked to comment on the letter, a spokesperson for Mr Khan said: “The mayor has been clear that the decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide was not an easy one, but necessary to tackle toxic air pollution and the climate crisis.

“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 ten cars seen driving in outer London on an average day are already ULEZ compliant and their drivers will not have to pay the charge. The mayor is doing all he can to support Londoners with the switch to cleaner vehicles, and expanded the scrappage scheme so that every Londoner with a non-compliant car is eligible to apply for a £2,000 grant.

“Sadiq is using limited funding to provide a scheme that should be funded at a national level. The mayor continues to call on the government to provide funding to London and the Home Counties for scrappage schemes, as they have done for other cities implementing Clean Air Zones such as Birmingham, Bristol and Portsmouth – and invites other politicians to join him.”

The mayor’s team confirmed to LondonWorld they will be responding to Mr Davey’s letter.