A new law that could give the Government the power to overturn the Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion to Greater London is to be raised in Parliament.
Plans that would allow Transport Secretary Mark Harper to veto decisions by the London Mayor Sadiq Khan will be proposed by Theresa Villiers on Wednesday.
The Tory MP wants to amend the Greater London Authority Act so the Government can review City Hall plans relating to transport and clean air zones, including the Ulez.
Introducing her Ten-Minute rule Bill, the former Environment Secretary is expected to say: “In my 18 years as MP, almost nothing has provoked such strong opposition as the Mayor of London’s plan to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone.
“It comes up on almost every doorstep and at almost every meeting. People stop me in the street to tell me how strongly they feel about this.
“That is why I am bringing forward a Bill to give the Government power to overrule Mayor Khan and stop ULEZ expansion.
“Of course, we need to continue to improve air quality in London but this is the wrong scheme at the wrong time.”
Almost 700,000 more drivers in London will have to pay the £12.50 Ulez levy if they use their car when the scheme expands on August 29, according to RAC analysis of figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
New research by the Tory party suggests that more than 1.2 million cars in the capital’s commuter belt will also be hit by the expansion.
DVLA data shows that Reading, Guildford, and Tunbridge Wells are among the worst affected areas, with a total of more than 135,000, 131,000, and 124,000 non-complaint vehicles respectively.
Chairman of the Conservative Party, Greg Hands MP, said: “Londoners and commuters shouldn’t have to foot the bill for another one of Mayor Khan’s half baked ideas.
“Cleaning up air quality in the city is important - but hardworking people, businesses and local services shouldn’t be penalised in the process.”
TfL believes that fewer than 200,000 additional motorists a day - including van drivers and motorcyclists - will be liable to pay the Ulez levy for the first time from August.
Its numbers are based on camera analysis of the vehicles currently driving in the outer “doughnut” expansion area.
Five Conservative-run councils cleared the first hurdle of their legal fight against the widening of Ulez last month.
A High Court judge ruled that an application from Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and Surrey Councils for a judicial review into the scheme should proceed to a full hearing in July.
City Hall in January launched a £110 million scrappage scheme for those wanting to upgrade their cars, drawing money from City Hall’s reserves.
Mr Khan has argued that air in every London borough breaches World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on the toxic pollutant nitrogen dioxide.
Analysis has found the single highest concentration of nitrogen dioxide was found on Harlesden High Street, in Brent, where 116.5 µg/m3 was measured on average.
The Mayor’s spokesman said: “The decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide was not an easy one, but necessary to tackle toxic air pollution and the climate crisis.
“It is disappointing that some backbench MPs are wasting parliamentary time playing politics. Both No.10 and the Transport Secretary have been clear this is a matter for the elected Mayor.
“With around 4,000 Londoners dying prematurely each year due to air pollution, there is no time for inaction and it’s people in outer London, particularly the poorest households, who suffer the most from the damaging health effects.
“Nine out of ten cars in outer London are already ULEZ compliant. For those with the most polluting vehicles the Mayor has launched his £110m vehicle scrappage scheme - the largest scheme ever launched by any city in the UK - to help low-income Londoners, disabled Londoners and micro businesses, sole traders and charities to replace their polluting vehicles.”
The Mayor is calling on the Government to match his funding for a targeted national scrappage scheme or providing money to London and the surrounding areas to support the switch to cleaner vehicles.
