City Hall Tories call for ULEZ expansion delay

GLA Conservatives' Transport Spokesman Keith Prince AM wrote to the Mayor today requesting that he delay ULEZ expansion until next year to allow Londoners time to recover and prepare.

Mr Prince told the Mayor: "I am writing to request that you delay the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone until next year to allow Londoners time to recover and prepare.

"When you announced your plan to expand the ULEZ charge up to the North and South Circulars in June 2018, Londoners had over three years' notice of the significant change. However, the coronavirus crisis has significantly impacted upon the ability of people and businesses to use that time to prepare.

"From March 2020 to July 2021, London has faced uncertainty and economic damage from repeated lockdowns and restrictions as we battled the virus. It's absurd to think that Londoners could have used this time to prepare for ULEZ expansion."

He added: "London can't afford for you to rush the ULEZ expansion so soon after the pandemic. In normal times this policy would be harmful. But it will be devastating for those whose livelihoods still hang in the balance in tough times like these."