Havering Conservatives launch ULEZ fight.

Havering Conservatives have tabled a motion for debate tonight July 13, that will require Havering Council to oppose ULEZ expansion by ‘all means within it’s power’. 

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, recently announced a consultation on the expansion of ULEZ believed to be consting £200 million to the entirety of the Greater London Authority. An expansion which would mean Havering falling within the ULEZ zone, with non-compliant cars charged a £12.50 per day charge. 

The move, announced earlier this year, was met with anger by a large number of Havering residents and local Conservatives committed to opposing ULEZ in their election campaign. 

Tonight, Havering Council will debate a motion put forward by Havering Conservatives which will require the council to do all it can to prevent the ULEZ expansion to the borough. 

Councillor David Taylor stated that this motion was a clear message to London’s Mayor.

“The residents of Havering are clear, we do not want ULEZ and we cannot afford it. Many of our local businesses and charities will suffer with the new ULEZ tax and we believe that Havering Council must send a clear message to City Hall”. 

An amendment to the motion has been proposed by the Labour group, though Taylor believes that this waters down the request. 

“I am pleased to see Labour also opposed ULEZ expansion to Havering, however their motion only requires Havering to make representations to the Mayor. This does not go far enough, our residents have asked us to fight this expansion and we must do everything we can to do so. We must show the Mayor we are serious, before we sit down to talk”. 

A number of HRA candidates also campaigned against UELZ expansion in the May 2022 elections. Taylor says he hopes they will join the fight to prevent expansion to Havering. 

“Our motion is clear, we must oppose ULEZ by all means within our power. I hope the HRA group will join us in showing the residents we were serious when we said we’d oppose ULEZ expansion.”

Romford Conservatives launched an online petition, against expansion, during their election campaign. To date, close to 800 residents have signed to show they too oppose the expansion. 

Of those who have signed, 60% say that they have a ULEZ compliant car with 30% stating they don’t. TFL’s figures state that 80% of cars in London are compliant, meaning Havering will be harder hit than other London Boroughs.

The vote takes place at Full Council tonight, July 13^th at Havering Town Hall