Havering Council should refuse to co-operate with the Mayor of London’s expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), a Conservative councillor suggested this week.

At a full council meeting last Thursday (November 24) Keith Prince urged the council leadership “not to co-operate” with the confirmed expansion of the ULEZ boundary to include outer London from August next year.

Cabinet member for environment Cllr Barry Mugglestone said that, although Havering has objected “in the strongest terms”, it will do what is “legally required”.

READ MORE: ULEZ Expansion: London drivers to pay £12.50 A DAY to use their cars from 2023

He said: “Hardworking residents have little option but to travel by car to make journeys within the borough, particularly between the north and south.

“I will continue to lobby all layers of government from the minister at the Department for Transport to City Hall to see that change.

“The council objected to the proposed expansion in the strongest possible terms, it considers it as nothing more than an unwelcome tax which will impact on many hardworking families already struggling to make ends meet in the cost-of-living crisis.”

READ MORE: Sadiq Khan confirms plans to expand the ULEZ to whole of London from next year

Cllr Prince, who is also a London Assembly member, claimed that outer London boroughs Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Harrow, and Hillingdon have all “voted not to co-operate” with the scheme.

When contacted for comment by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Hillingdon’s leader Cllr Ian Edwards confirmed his outer west London council would use “every means at its disposal” to prevent ULEZ from being extended into the borough.

However, a spokesperson for Croydon said no votes on ULEZ have taken place, although it voiced “clear concerns” in August.

A spokesperson for Bexley Council said it was not aware of any vote on refusing to cooperate and Harrow has not responded to a request for comment.

Cllr Prince said: “I believe they have all passed a motion saying they will not co-operate with the [Greater London Authority] installing the cameras. They are the facts I was given.”

Under the current ULEZ scheme, which expanded to the north and south circular roads in October 2021, drivers of the most polluting cars are charged a £12.50 levy.

Khan announced its expansion on Friday morning but has not yet published the results of a consultation carried out this summer.

The announcement also included an increased scrappage scheme fund of £110 million and travelcards for those who scrap more polluting cars.

The Mayor has also pledged to improve outer London bus networks.

He argues that “around 4,000” Londoners die every year as a direct result of toxic air – the majority in outer London and that “five million” will benefit if ULEZ is expanded to cover the whole city.

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