London mayor Sadiq Khan has urged Surrey, Kent and Hertfordshire county councils to ‘put their politics aside’ and allow the installation of ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) infrastructure.
ULEZ is expanding to outer London on 29 August but councils bordering the capital, except for Slough, are not co-operating with Transport for London (TfL) in installing cameras and signs, the London Assembly said.
A spokesperson for Mr Khan said: ‘Councils have a responsibility to ensure their residents and all motorists are aware of important changes that may impact drivers.
‘By refusing to allow TfL to install ULEZ warning signs at key junctions, these councils outside London are not fulfilling their responsibility to ensure their residents and other motorists have all the information they need to avoid driving into the ULEZ inadvertently.
‘The Mayor is urging these three county councils to put their politics aside and do what’s best for their residents and drivers.’
Surrey and Kent county councils have said they will not allow ULEZ cameras and signage while there is no mitigation to ‘minimise the impact of the expansion’ of the scheme on their residents.
Both councils also raised concerns about the withdrawal of the day travelcard and the subsequent cost of travelling into the capital.
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire CC said: ‘The expansion of the ULEZ zone by the Mayor of London to Hertfordshire’s borders will 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.’
The London Assembly said Highways England had ‘co-operated fully’ with TfL, so there is ULEZ signage on major roads leading to the London boundary.
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