A North London borough has backed Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s plans to expand London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone as other councils have blasted the move.
All Brent motorists will have to pay £12.50 to drive in the area if their cars don’t comply with emissions requirements from August 2023. Drivers of petrol cars registered before 2005 and diesel cars registered before 2015 will be subject to the daily charge in a drive to cut air pollution.
The leadership of Brent Council claim action is needed to clean up air in the borough.
READ MORE: ULEZ scrappage scheme announced ahead of expansion – here is what it offers
Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt said: “Tackling the climate emergency is a challenge that demands bold solutions. This is one of the many difficult decisions leaders like the Mayor of London must make to clean London’s air.
“One death in our borough due to toxic air is a tragedy. When you take into account the 149 premature deaths that we have in Brent due to bad air, you can only come to the conclusion that bold action needs to be taken.”
Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council (Photo: Brent Council)
The ULEZ is currently in place across parts of Brent, such as Queen’s Park, Willesden, Harlesden and Dollis Hill, but this summer it will be expanded across the whole borough. This means people living in areas above the North Circular, such as Wembley and Kingsbury, will be asked to pay the charge if their car is not compliant.
Many London councils have come out against ULEZ’s expansion into the outer boroughs. One Labour council has also voiced concerns about the scheme. Barking and Dagenham Council’s leader thinks the £100 scrappage scheme, which provides grants for non-compliant drivers to buy newer cars, is not sufficient.
READ MORE: Fraudster and sidekick jailed for murder of businesswoman
Roads in Brent are responsible for up to 30 per cent of local PM2.5 pollutant emissions and 48 per cent of Nitrous Oxide emissions, according to data released by the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (LAIE) – both of which are harmful.
Cllr Butt said: “Half of Brent is already in the Ultra Low Emission Zone, so we welcome the expansion bringing more equality to the borough. It has already led to up to 44 per cent less toxic air in Central London, so we hope it will also improve air quality and public health and reduce pollution across Brent.
“While 80 per cent of vehicles are already compliant, some residents who are reliant on their vehicles may be unable to afford a cleaner vehicle. We hope the scrappage scheme targets those most affected and that existing scheme discounts, exemptions and reimbursements continue to support those least able to afford the daily charge.”
To get the latest news and features direct to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here