Council invites residents to give their views on London Mayor’s ULEZ scheme

Updated: 21st April 2023

Sutton Council is inviting local residents and businesses to give their views on the extension of the Mayor of London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) to Sutton at a meeting of the Council on 24 April.

The Mayor of London confirmed last November that the ULEZ would be expanded to cover the whole of outer London, including Sutton. The expanded scheme is due to start on 29 August.

Sutton Council has stated its opposition to the Mayor of London’s proposal and has refused to sign an agreement allowing TfL to install signage and cameras on council-owned property.

At a meeting on 18 July 2022, Sutton councillors agreed that it would not support the Mayor’s ULEZ proposals unless:

• public transport services are improved significantly across the borough to give residents and businesses alternatives to using their own vehicles

• the scrappage scheme for vehicles that do not comply with the Mayor’s new requirements is increased significantly

• the expansion scheme is delayed until the cost of living crisis is over

It was clear at the last meeting of the Council on 6 March that many Sutton residents and businesses are deeply unhappy with the Mayor’s ULEZ proposals. The borough’s Leader, Councillor Ruth Dombey, has now proposed that the next meeting of the Council at 7pm on 24 April allows Sutton residents, businesses and students the opportunity to air their views with councillors.

We now have reached capacity for the number of people who wish to speak at the meeting. Tickets will be reserved for those who have been allocated a speaker slot. The remaining tickets to listen to the debate will be available on a first-come-first serve basis from the ground floor of the Sutton Central Library from 6pm on 24 April.

The meeting will also be available to watch live online for those unable to attend personally.

Details for the meeting are available on the council website's meeting page. A recording of the meeting will also be shared with the Mayor of London and Transport for London.

Mayor of the London Borough of Sutton, Councillor Trish Fivey, said:

“It was clear at the last meeting of the Council how strongly many Sutton residents and businesses feel about the Mayor of London’s proposed extension of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) to our borough.

“I have been approached by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Ruth Dombey, requesting that the usual Council meeting procedures be suspended to allow for greater public participation in the next Council meeting on 24 April. As this has cross party support, and having observed at the last meeting of the Council how strongly many Sutton residents and businesses feel about ULEZ, I have agreed that this should take place.

“Anyone living, working or studying in Sutton can attend the next meeting of the Council when we will be discussing ULEZ in more detail. You will need to register your interest in speaking in advance as the venue has a limited capacity.

“As this is still an ordinary Council meeting, there will be other business that councillors must consider too. We therefore aim to hear from as many people as possible but may not be able to take all speakers. Those who will be called to speak at the meeting will receive confirmation from the Council in advance.

“With this change in the meeting format, councillors and residents are welcome to submit questions on any issues affecting Sutton in the usual way, but these will receive written responses only and will not be heard at the meeting.”

ENDS