London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called on Surrey County Council to reconsider their decision to refuse the installation of signs warning drivers of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) boundaries. The mayor has also urged Kent and Hertfordshire County Councils to do the same.
In a statement, the mayor’s spokesperson emphasised the importance of erecting signage to ensure drivers are “fully aware” of the ULEZ boundaries, particularly at locations where the lack of advance warning signs may increase the risk of unsafe manoeuvres.
Surrey and Kent councils have refused signage whilst there was no mitigation to minimise impact on their residents.
The statement added county highways authorities have “statutory obligations” and the councils have refused the TfL offer to fund the cost of the signs.
A Transport for London spokesperson said they have identified three locations where they believe the lack of advance warning signs “increases the risk of unsafe manoeuvres” and they raised this with the three councils numerous times.
The locations are on the Stanwell Moor Road approach to the roundabout with the Southern Perimeter Road of Heathrow Airport in Surrey, Hewitts roundabout in Kent and the A411 approach to Stirling Corner roundabout in Hertfordshire.
They said they believed signage was “of benefit” to residents of the home counties and urged the councils to work with them “constructively”.
Both councils confirmed they would not put up signage without any mitigation to minimise the impact of the expansion on residents of Kent and Surrey.
A spokesperson for Surrey County Council said the extended scrappage scheme would have “no impact on those outside of London”.
They said it meant Surrey residents would have to pay the Ulez charge and the costs to scrap their own car as the scrappage scheme only applies to people living inside London.
They urged Mr Khan and TfL to do “what is right” and extend the scheme outside of London, provide exemption for key workers and better bus routes between the counties.
A spokesperson for Kent County Council said the aim of improving air quality must go “hand-in-hand with appropriate mitigations, including better availability of public transport.”
They added plans for tolls at the Blackwall Tunnel were “another indication [Mr Khan] has no consideration for the impact it could have on Kent residents and businesses to be further financially penalised”.
Hertfordshire County Council said the ULEZ expansion to Hertfordshire’s borders would “price some of the lowest paid in our county off the roads”.
“No amount of signage will change the fact that our residents and businesses face a £12.50 penalty for travelling into the capital,” they added.