Council will not allow ULEZ signage and cameras to be installed by TfL

Surrey County Council has said that it will not enter into a Section 8 agreement which is needed for Transport for London (TfL) to place ULEZ signage and cameras on its highways.

This comes as part of a long-standing disagreement over the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan’s decision to expand London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

As of August 2023, drivers of cars that do not meet the emissions standards will have to pay £12.50 a day to enter the Greater London Authority boundary.

Last month, the High Court rejected a judicial review claim brought by the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Hillingdon and Harrow, along with Surrey, in opposition to the proposed expansion.

In London Borough of Hillingdon & Ors v Mayor of London, Mr Justice Swift dismissed the challenge on all three grounds, concluding that the Mayor's expansion decision "was within his powers".

Surrey have now said they will ban ULEZ signage on their land, alongside a number of other councils bordering the capital.

The Mayor of London has warned that if residents with non-compliant vehicles drive in the expanded ULEZ by mistake after 29 August, “these councils will have to accept their share of responsibility”.

A Surrey County Council spokesperson said: “Surrey County Council has informed TfL that we will not enter into a Section 8 agreement which is needed for them to place signage and cameras on our highway, whilst there isn’t any mitigation in place to minimise the impact of the expansion on Surrey residents.

“We met with Transport for London recently in the hope of agreeing mitigation for Surrey residents. Sadly, nothing was offered. We have written to them again to ask for a second meeting regarding suggestions to help our residents, including a car scrappage scheme, extending the Zone 6 Oyster Card scheme and increasing bus services on the Surrey/London border.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The High Court dismissed the case against ULEZ on all grounds, agreeing the decision to expand was fully lawful. The cost to council taxpayers of the five councils that brought the case could be over a million pounds. The expansion of the ULEZ was an incredibly difficult decision, but one the Mayor made to save lives and improve the health of millions of Londoners. Nine out of ten cars seen driving in outer London on an average day are already ULEZ compliant. 

“TfL is trying to work collaboratively with councils to install cameras and signage, including outside London, but some are still refusing to cooperate. Councils have an important responsibility to ensure their residents and all motorists are aware of important changes that may impact drivers – whether changes in speed limits, schemes like the Dart Charge, or road-charging schemes. 

“If residents with non-compliant vehicles drive in the expanded ULEZ by mistake after 29th August these councils will have to accept their share of responsibility. By not putting up signs these councils outside London are currently not fulfilling their responsibility as public bodies to ensure their residents and other motorists have all the information they need to drive safely and conveniently.”

Lottie Winson