Local leaders mark ULEZ expansion

Local leaders welcomed the Mayor of London to Hackney today to mark the expansion of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone, which will now cover all of the borough. 

From today, the expansion means that only vehicles meeting strict emissions standards can drive inside the north and south circular without paying a £12.50 charge. 

It is expected to significantly reduce harmful nitrogen dioxide emissions inside the expanded zone by up to 30 per cent. 

Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville, and Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm, Cllr Mete Coban, welcomed Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where they showcased the new Zero Emissions Network cargo bike hire scheme, which is helping residents and businesses in Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Islington carry goods without having to use a car.

Residents and businesses can find out more about the ULEZ at: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone 

This is a landmark day for our city. I pledged to be the greenest Mayor London’s ever had and I am incredibly proud that expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone today will clean up London’s toxic air pollution and help tackle the global climate emergency by reducing emissions.

In central London, the ULEZ has already helped cut toxic roadside nitrogen dioxide pollution by nearly half and led to reductions that are five times greater than the national average. But pollution isn’t just a central London problem, which is why expanding the ULEZ today will benefit Londoners across the whole of the city and is a crucial step in London’s green recovery from this pandemic.

This is also about social justice – we know pollution hits the poorest Londoners, who are least likely to own a car, the hardest, which is why I’m doing everything I can to improve air quality and protect the health of all Londoners. I will not stand by while pollution leads to 4,000 Londoners dying early each year and our children growing up with stunted lungs. The expanded ULEZ is a vital step towards helping combat London’s illegal air and reducing the emissions that are harming our planet.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London

We’ve lobbied hard in the past for ULEZ to be expanded to cover the whole of Hackney, so we were really pleased the Mayor of London came to East London to mark its launch today. 

Already in central London, ULEZ has seen significant reductions in nitrogen dioxide emissions, which we hope is replicated in all parts of the borough, helping to tackle London’s pollution crisis. 

Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville

Air pollution kills more than 10,000 Londoners every year and particulate matter alone causes 7% of all deaths among people over the age of 30 in Hackney. 

Alongside stricter emissions standards, we’re really proud to be working closely with TfL on our plans to rebuild a greener Hackney after the pandemic, with tens of new School Streets and low traffic neighbourhoods supporting people to switch from cars to walking, cycling and public transport.

Cllr Mete Coban MBE, Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm