Update on Lobbying Against ULEZ

I wanted to update constituents further on my discussions relating to the Mayor’s expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). For those of you who had not viewed my previous update, you can view this at: https://www.julialopez.co.uk/news/mayors-response-mps-ulez-objections

Many constituents will be aware that a number of outer-London Councils have taken a very robust public stance in opposing this policy and I have been encouraging Havering Council to join in this approach. I have advised constituents to directly lobby their local Councillors for this and I am grateful to those residents who have included me or updated me on their exchanges.

Last week, I met with the Leader and Chief Executive of Havering Council who advised me that Havering had not signed ‘Section 8’ agreements with Transport for London to permit the installation of the cameras required to implement the scheme. I am pleased that the Council have adopted this position. While this is a very welcome step, I must advise that the Council consider that the Mayor will be able to impose the installation of the cameras via GLA powers. Nevertheless, I continue to encourage the Council to use any and all powers available to them to oppose the ULEZ.

Some of you will have seen that both Surrey and Kent County Councils have recently announced their own opposition to the ULEZ expansion and have written directly to the Mayor to threaten that they may withhold consent for the installation of advanced signage of the ULEZ on roads within their network. If withheld, this could mean that the Mayor would have to effectively reduce the ULEZ as advance warning signage could not be installed until within London.

Given that Surrey and Kent have adopted this stance, I have written to the Leader of Essex County Council to seek his advice of Essex’s consideration of this policy and whether it has any plans to adopt a similar position. I shall update constituents on this enquiry when I receive a response.

Please be assured that I will continue to liaise with all stakeholders to maintain pressure against this policy and will continue to lobby the Mayor against its implementation. I will provide further updates on this work as they become available.

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