I’ve observed the more power Labour have in Crawley, the more emboldened they become in forcing through bad decisions, because they are electorally strong enough to ignore public concerns.

We see this in London, where Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan is expanding London’s ULEZ.  My Conservative colleague, Pound Hill North & Forge Wood councillor Richard Burrett, and myself, have jointly tabled a motion for next week’s Crawley Borough Council Full Council meeting, that Crawley formally opposes ULEZ expansion.  Our motion reads:

“This Council notes that:

The London Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) currently covers the area within the North and South Circular Roads only.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, plans to extend the ULEZ to cover all London Boroughs from 29 August 2023.  

On Thursday 16 February 2023, a coalition of five councils opposed to ULEZ expansion, comprising four outer London Boroughs and Surrey County Council, launched a Judicial Review to challenge TfL and the Mayor of London's decision to expand the ULEZ to outer London Boroughs. 

The proposed ULEZ extension would mean its outer boundary would apply from Farthing Way (the A23) in Coulsdon, which is only 11.9 miles away from Crawley’s boundary on the M23 at Junction 9 near Gatwick, which can be a drive of under 15 minutes.  

The daily charge to enter the London ULEZ is £12.50 for vehicles that are not exempt, with the penalty for not paying set to rise to £180.

The charge is levied from midnight to midnight, meaning that non-exempt vehicles entering the zone in the evening and exiting after midnight would be charged £25 for one trip to anywhere in London.     

Many Crawley residents have a need to travel by car to outer London Boroughs for a variety of purposes, including work and specialist hospital appointments.  Residents on lower incomes are more likely to own older vehicles that are not exempt from paying the ULEZ charge.”    

“This Council resolves: To formally oppose the expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone and to state this opposition and the negative impacts for Crawley residents in a written representation to the Mayor of London.”  

Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group

22nd March 2023