Conversations to understand how other boroughs intend to challenge the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) expansion remain ongoing, Havering Council has said.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced last November that the ULEZ would be extended to incorporate the whole of the capital from August 29 this year. 

From that date, any vehicle that is not compliant will be liable for the daily £12.50 fee, with some exemptions. 

A spokesperson for the mayor said the extension was “not an easy decision”, but that it was a “necessary one to reduce the capital’s toxic air pollution, tackle the climate emergency and cut congestion in our city”. 

Towards the end of last year, four Conservative-led boroughs due to come under the scheme, Hillingdon, Harrow, Bexley and Croydon, submitted a letter announcing their opposition to the extension. 

And more recently, Sutton Council, which has a Lib Dem administration, announced it would block the installation of ULEZ cameras. 

Havering Council, which has been pushed to refuse to cooperate with the expansion by Tory councillor and London Assembly member Keith Prince, said it continues to liaise with other boroughs to learn more about how they propose to challenge the extension. 

Cllr Ray Morgon, leader of the council, said: “We have had meetings with Transport for London, are currently in contact with other London councils who oppose the ULEZ expansion to understand specifically how they intend to block or challenge the mayor’s decision, along with carrying out our own research.” 

Within Havering, the borough’s three MPs have publicly opposed the ULEZ expansion, with Andrew Rosindell (Con, Romford) describing it as a “devastating move” in an article for the Recorder. 

The scheme has however also received some local support. Ruth Kettle-Frisby, a member of the Havering Climate Coalition, wrote a piece responding to some of the claims in Mr Rosindell’s article, and Mark Philpotts, co-ordinator at Better Streets for Havering, said the ULEZ is “an important tool for influencing travel choice generally and motor vehicle choice specifically”. 

Romford Recorder: A map of the area the ULEZ will cover later this yearA map of the area the ULEZ will cover later this year (Image: Transport for London)

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A spokesperson for the mayor confirmed Mr Khan is aware of the letter from the four boroughs and “will respond in due course”. 

They added: “The mayor has listened to Londoners throughout this process, which is why he’s announced the biggest scrappage scheme yet - £110million - to help the Londoners who need it most, including charities, low income and disabled Londoners, micro-businesses and sole traders.

"This is on top of the £61million provided for previous scrappage schemes.”