Sadiq Khan’s controversial Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion has come under fire as new data suggests it has failed to reduce pollution levels.
Bromley Council revealed this week that, despite the Mayor’s extension of the £12.50 daily charge zone last year, there has been “no overall lowering in pollution” since the expansion came into effect.
Khan’s Ulez scheme, which was initially introduced in Central London, was expanded to include all areas within the North and South Circular roads last year, in a bid to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality. The expansion meant that hundreds of thousands more drivers, including those in suburban areas like Bromley, had to comply with the emissions standards or face daily charges.
However, Bromley Council’s monitoring data has raised serious concerns about the efficacy of the ULEZ policy. According to their findings, pollution levels have remained stagnant since the expansion, suggesting the initiative is not delivering the environmental benefits promised by City Hall. The council’s report directly challenges claims made by the Mayor, who has repeatedly defended the Ulez scheme as a key tool in tackling air pollution and improving public health.
The expansion has already been widely criticised by residents, local authorities, and business owners in the outer boroughs, many of whom argue the £12.50 charge disproportionately affects lower-income families and small businesses who rely on older vehicles. Bromley’s report is likely to fuel further opposition, with critics suggesting that the Mayor’s scheme is nothing more than a revenue-raising tool disguised as an environmental initiative.
In response, the Mayor’s office has insisted that the ULEZ scheme is part of a wider strategy to combat pollution and promote cleaner, healthier air for Londoners. They argue that air quality data should be measured over a longer period to capture the full effects of the initiative.
Still, with Bromley and other councils now pointing to data that contradicts the Mayor’s claims, questions are mounting over whether ULEZ is truly delivering the results it set out to achieve. Londoners—especially those hit hardest by the daily charges—are left wondering if they are paying for a policy that isn’t living up to its promises.
With public backlash growing, Sadiq Khan may soon find himself under increasing pressure to justify ULEZ’s expansion, as more evidence emerges that its impact on air quality may not be as significant as initially thought.
Photo: By Shayan Barjesteh van Waalwijk van Doorn licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
