Funds raised through London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) should be ring-fenced for use on improving air quality across the capital, councils have said.
Heightened emissions controls will be introduced to the existing Congestion Charge areas of central London in September 2020, alongside increases to the number of zero emissions buses and restrictions on taxis and private hire vehicles.
However London Councils has urged Transport for London (TfL) to ensure all funds raised from vehicles that exceed the pollutant standards are spent only on measures that will improve air quality, such as electric buses, electric charging points or sustainable surface transport.
In its response to the ULEZ consultation, the representative body warned that the scheme alone ‘will not solve London’s air quality problems’ particularly for regions outside of the central zone.
‘While acknowledging the Transport Emissions Road Map and funding schemes for boroughs to deliver local air quality improvements, we strongly encourage the Mayor to continue to prioritise air quality improvements, establish ways to reduce air pollution levels to below the legal limit, and work with boroughs to ensure the benefits of the ULEZ are felt across London,’ the London boroughs lobby group said.
TfL told Transport Network that it anticipated funds raised from the ULEZ would be reinvested into improving transport once operating costs are covered.
However it is likely that ultimately the ULEZ will not represent a revenue-raising tool for the capital, with vehicles gradually becoming compliant with the tighter demands and avoiding charges.
London Councils also raised calls for the ULEZ zone to be widened, pushing TfL to work with inner-city boroughs that want to be included in the scheme.
They warned that the benefits of the ULEZ could ultimately be ‘displaced’ by worsening air quality outside the zone as motorists attempt to avoid incurring fines.
‘We are particularly concerned about the impact of the areas immediately outside the boundaries of the ULEZ, including the Inner Ring Road,’ London Councils response read.
‘Boroughs foresee a situation where drivers seek to park their cars in these areas to avoid paying the ULEZ charge. This could see an increase in congestion, pressure on parking, and increased poor air quality in these areas as drivers search for parking spaces.’
