Brent included in Sadiq Khan’s extended London ultra-low emission zone

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan with schoolchildren at Netley Primary School, where he announced the ultra-low emission zone will be expanded to the North and South Circular roads from October 2021. Picture: Stefan Rousseau (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

The Mayor of London’s scheme, which will see the most polluting vehicles charged for entering central London from April next year, will be extended to the North Circular and South Circular roads in 2021.

This means the zone stretches to cover the south east of the borough, including Queen’s Park, Willesden, Harlesden and Dollis Hill. Areas above the North Circular, such as Wembley and Kingsbury, are not part of the scheme.

Campaigners have been calling on City Hall to introduce measures that will improve the health of Londoners at risk of air pollution – in particular, schoolchildren.

The new zone will operate on top of the congestion charge, and drivers within the area covered using non-compliant vehicles will have to pay a daily charge of £12.50.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan with schoolchildren at Netley Primary School, where he announced the ultra-low emission zone will be expanded to the North and South Circular roads from October 2021. Picture: Stefan Rousseau (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

The mayor will also tighten the grip on the most polluting buses, coaches and lorries across the whole of London from October 2020.

It is estimated that 100,000 cars, 35,000 vans and 3,000 lorries might be affected by the expanded zone and tighter standards every day.

Mr Khan, speaking on a visit to a Camden primary school, said: “Tackling London’s lethal air and safeguarding the health of Londonders requires hard-hitting action.

“Air pollution is a national health crisis and I refuse to stand back as thousands of Londoners breathe in air so filthy that it shortens our life expectancy, harms our lungs and worsens chronic illness.

“Some motorists will need help switching to greener options, which is why we are urging ministers to deliver a diesel scrappage scheme to get the dirtiest cars off our roads and offers drivers a fairer deal, especially those who bought vehicles thinking they were more environmentally friendly on government advice.”

Despite welcoming the expansion news, campaigners Clean Air for Brent, raised concerns that the ULEZ will not cover the North Circular itself.

Chair Fiona Mulaisho said: “As hundreds of Brent residents live right by or very close to the North Circular, we will be challenging the mayor and Brent Council to work together to ensure these people’s air quality does not worsen when the new zone comes into effect.

“The Mayor now needs to turn his thoughts to what he is going to do to ensure those who live outside the North Circular can also breathe cleaner air.”

The ULEZ launch came hours after Westminster City Council threw a spanner into the works of Mr Khan’s plan to clean up London’s filthy air. The town hall last night unexpectedly withdrew its support for pedestrianising Oxford Street – something that had already been backed by every 2016 mayoral candidate, a public consultation, and the council itself.