Sutton Council has announced the launch of a consultation for local residents and businesses to offer feedback on the extension of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ).
Last November, the mayor of London confirmed that the ULEZ would be expanded to cover the entirety of outer London, including Sutton and go live on 29 August.
The local authority has expressed opposition to the extension of the zone and has refused to sign an agreement that would allow transport for London (TfL) to install signage and cameras on land or property owned by the council.
Councillors agreed to continue opposing the ULEZ expansion unless the following criteria were met:
- public transport services are improved significantly across the borough to offer better private vehicle alternatives;
- a significant increase in the scrappage scheme allowance for non-compliant vehicles;
- and the delay of the expansion until the cost of living crisis ends.
Leader of the borough, councillor Ruth Dombey, has now proposed that the next council meeting be used as an opportunity to receive public feedback on the initiative.
Those wishing to speak at the meeting will need to register in advance with a form that can be accessed on the council’s website, with the meeting also being broadcast live online.
Cllr Trish Fivey, mayor of the London Borough of Sutton, 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.”
