Residents will know that Mayor Khan has regretfully proceeded with his expansion of ULEZ to include all areas of Greater London.
This decision does not have my support and I have been working with colleagues, both locally in Hillingdon and Harrow and London-wide, to challenge this unpopular decision since its inception. This is a major concern at constituency level, not least because I don’t believe that the Mayor’s proposals will make a positive difference on air quality, while burdening constituents with a greater cost for using their vehicles at a time when we all face great financial pressure.
I am glad that there is a lot of local consensus on this important issue. Party leaders from both sides of Hillingdon Council’s chamber wrote to their GLA representative urging them to vote down Mayor Khan’s proposals, and I was disappointed to see this letter disregarded. Further, Hillingdon and Harrow councils, along with Bexley, have announced their resolve to resist its implementation by using all means at their disposal – a decision I full-heartedly support.
As well as being vocal on this issue in support of councillor colleagues and London-wide MP colleagues, I have had the chance to challenge this decision both in an article I have written and in the House of Commons, during Transport Questions recently, I set out the opposition of my constituents and the worry about its ineffective approach to tackling air quality. You can see my question here and read my article here.
Lastly, I know that many residents have quite rightly raised concerns about the expansion with me, both in writing and in person at my surgeries, and I would encourage those who are opposed to put their names to two major petitions that have been set up by the GLA Conservatives and on petition.parliament.uk.
