Newham included in Sadiq Khan’s extended London’s ultra-low emission zone

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan with schoolchildren at Netley Primary School, where he announced the ultra-low emission zone will be expanded to the North and South Circular roads from October 2021. Picture: Stefan Rousseau (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

The Mayor of London’s scheme, which will see the most polluting vehicles charged for entering central London from April next year, will be extended to the North Circular and South Circular roads in 2021.

This means the zone stretches to cover the majority of the borough, apart from the small area not included to the east of the A1020.

Under its previous guise, the zone only reached as far east as Tower Bridge.

Campaigners have been calling on City Hall to introduce measures that will improve the health of Londoners at risk of air pollution – in particular, schoolchildren.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan with schoolchildren at Netley Primary School, where he announced the ultra-low emission zone will be expanded to the North and South Circular roads from October 2021. Picture: Stefan Rousseau (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

The new zone will operate on top of the congestion charge, and drivers within the area covered using non-compliant vehicles will have to pay a daily charge of £12.50.

The mayor will also tighten the grip on the most polluting buses, coaches and lorries across the whole of London from October 2020.

It is estimated that 100,000 cars, 35,000 vans and 3,000 lorries might be affected by the expanded zone and tighter standards every day.

Mr Khan, speaking on a visit to a Camden primary school, said: “Tackling London’s lethal air and safeguarding the health of Londonders requires hard-hitting action.

“Air pollution is a national health crisis and I refuse to stand back as thousands of Londoners breathe in air so filthy that it shortens our life expectancy, harms our lungs and worsens chronic illness.

“Some motorists will need help switching to greener options, which is why City Hall are urging ministers to deliver a diesel scrappage scheme to get the dirtiest cars off our roads and offers drivers a fairer deal.”

The ULEZ launch came hours after Westminster City Council threw a spanner into the works of Mr Khan’s plan to clean up London’s filthy air.

The town hall last night unexpectedly withdrew its support for pedestrianising Oxford Street – something that had already been backed by every 2016 mayoral candidate, a public consultation, and the council itself.