Sir Sadiq Khan’s City Hall has been accused of failing to collect adequate pollution data for the second year of the ULEZ scheme despite raking in millions of pounds.
The Daily Express attempted to use transparency laws to establish what the levels were of harmful pollutants across London two years on from the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone in July 2023.
Sir Sadiq’s authority produced an extensive analysis of the impacts of the first year of the ULEZ expansion but failed to replicate this for the following year.
The Freedom of Information request on the £12.50 a day charge that hit millions of motorists has fuelled accusations it is only a money-making scheme.
Outer London MP David Simmonds said: “My constituents have forked out a fortune for Mayor Khan’s ULEZ suspecting all along it was just a money raising measure.”
Mr Simmonds, who campaigned to stop the expansion, added: “The fact the Mayor hasn’t the data to back up his claims of ongoing benefits is just another reminder how little he cares for Londoners who drive.”
Since the London-wide expansion in August 2023, Transport for London (TfL) has raked in more than £226 million in fees and fines.
That is on top of hundreds of millions pocketed by the transport bosses raised from earlier phases of the zone.
Across the country, a network of clean air zones has generated more than £1billion from motorists in charges and fines, with London accounting for the lion’s share.
The ULEZ operates in London to improve air quality by requiring most vehicles to meet specific emissions standards or pay a daily charge to drive within the zone, which covers all London boroughs.
Jonathan Blades, interim director of external affairs at Asthma and Lung UK, said: “Londoners rightly want to know that ULEZ is making a difference – and the evidence shows it is. Since its expansion, harmful air pollution has dropped significantly, helping to improve public health, reduce sick days, and save an estimated £37 million in health-related costs.
“But with over 24 million people in urban areas across England still breathing toxic air, raising public awareness of the dangers of air pollution must be a national priority. The regular collection and sharing of data is crucial for proving the effectiveness of policies like ULEZ – and making the case for similar schemes across the country.
“Transparent reporting not only builds public trust, but also helps communities see the real health and economic benefits of action on air pollution. Robust data and community engagement are essential in showing that clean air policies are having a real-world impact, encouraging politicians to act further on air quality and ensure everyone has the right to breathe clean air.”
Earlier studies by City Hall said ULEZ had slashed nitrogen oxide emissions by 36%.
They also said that roadside nitrogen oxide levels were estimated to have dropped 27%.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The ULEZ is the world’s largest clean air zone, and thanks to this bold policy and our other transformative air quality policies, all Londoners and visitors are now breathing cleaner air while thousands of polluting cars have been taken off our roads meaning levels of toxic air pollution have substantially decreased.
“Two years since ULEZ expanded London-wide, I’m proud the evidence shows it’s been even more effective than expected in helping to improve the health of Londoners, support children’s lung growth and ultimately save lives.
“Due to these pioneering policies, we are close to bringing air pollution within legal limits and I remain committed to improving air quality across the capital as we continue building a greener, fairer, better London for everyone.”