Sadiq Khan mulls 'pay-as-you-drive' scheme using ULEZ cameras

5 March 2023, 16:48 | Updated: 6 March 2023, 06:43

Sadiq Khan is pictured at a ULEZ event last week
Sadiq Khan is pictured at a ULEZ event last week. Picture: Alamy

By Adam Solomons

Sadiq Khan is reportedly mulling a pay-as-you-go style system to charge road users in London using cameras bought by the police.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The London mayor also revealed he has asked Transport for London (TfL) to look at more "sophisticated technology" for charging the capital's motorists.

TfL has been tasked with installing 2,750 extra cameras ahead of the expansion of the mayor's extension of the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) to the entire capital from August 29.

That means drivers will have to pay £12.50 for each journey into any part of London.

So far around 300 cameras have been placed in the run-up to the controversial extension, The Telegraph reported.

Read more: Sadiq Khan sparks fury as he decries 'Far Right' and 'Covid denier' element among Ulez protesters

Read more: Five councils launch legal challenge to dispute Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion

ANPR cameras bought by police may be used to enforce the ULEZ
ANPR cameras bought by police may be used to enforce the ULEZ. Picture: Alamy

Mayor Khan also revealed that Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras could be deployed.

He told the London Assembly this week: “ANPR cameras could form part of the potential operation of such a scheme but no proposals have been developed."

A spokesperson for City Hall claimed that using the police-bought cameras is just one of several ideas being considered by officials.

They said: “TfL has outlined how one future option could be to abolish existing charges and replace them with a single simpler road user charging scheme which could take into account factors such as local public transport availability, employment and income, but the technology required is still many years away.

“Any formal proposals which could be developed in the future would be subject to consultation with information provided on detailed scheme proposals and their likely impacts.”

Motorists face a London-wide ULEZ from August 29
Motorists face a London-wide ULEZ from August 29. Picture: Alamy

Khan was roundly criticised earlier this week for comparing some ULEZ critics to anti-vaxxers and members of the far-right.

He told the Assembly that people with "legitimate objections" have been "joining hands" with those from "far-right groups".

“Let’s be frank, let’s call a spade a spade. Some of those outside are part of the far-right. Some are Covid deniers. Some are vaccine-deniers. And some are Tories," the Mayor of London said.

Mr Khan's comments sparked anger in the crowd, with members of the public shouting back to the Mayor: "We are not the far-right - normal people are not the far-right."

Caller cannot believe Sadiq Khan has 'gone this low'

Conservative Assembly Member Peter Fortune, also at the event, criticised Mr Khan's comments, saying: "You heard it didn’t you? If you disagree with the Mayor, he’s going to paint you as far-right."

Mr Khan went on to say he will seek to address people's "legitimate concerns" and "make sure we carry on listening to make the ULEZ a success".

Mr Khan previously said extending the ultra-low emission zone to cover the whole of the city was "one of the toughest decisions I've taken".

But he has insisted air pollution is making Londoners "sick from cradle to the grave", adding that he wants to remain "on the right side of history" by expanding ULEZ.

Sadiq Khan blasts ULEZ critics in London Assembly meeting

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: 

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Breaking News

Health minister Andrew Gwynne sacked over comments posted in WhatsApp group

Police officers hold back protesters trying to block the road.

Two arrested as protesters clash with police outside proposed site for new Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ in London

Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

'She's terrible': Trump takes swipe at Meghan, but will not deport Prince Harry

Freed Palestinian prisoners are greeted by a crowd as they arrive in the Gaza Strip after being released from an Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.

Emotional scenes in West Bank and Gaza as Palestinians reunited with their families after release from Israeli prisons

Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Dasilva Aguiar and Bebe King.

'She was grateful for life': parents of Southport stabbing victims pay tribute to their children

Israeli hostage reunited with his family.

Emotional moment Israeli hostages reunite with families after being paraded on stage by Hamas

Police officers hold back protesters trying to block the road at the rally.

Protesters clash with police as thousands rally outside proposed site for new Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ in London

The father of the Huszti sisters has said he believes his daughters were "kidnapped" and "cruelly killed"

Heartbroken father of sisters found dead in River Dee believes they were 'lured to their death'

Hollyoaks star and country singer thought to be son of British couple shot dead in French villa ‘by UK gangsters’

Hollyoaks star breaks silence over death of mum found dead in French villa with her husband

Harvey Willgoose's parents Caroline Willgoose (left) and Mark (right) holder a banner as they march to Bramall Lane in memory of their son

Hundreds gather for memorial march after 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose stabbed to death at school in Sheffield

Police tell locals to stay away from Jeremy Clarkson’s pub due to large gathering of pony and traps

Police tell locals to stay away from Jeremy Clarkson’s pub due to large gathering of pony and traps

Pauline Quirke

Birds of a Feather star Pauline Quirke 'struggling to identify family members' amid dementia battle

Detail of the logo on a Sony PlayStation 5 home video game console

PlayStation Network hit with worldwide outage as tens of thousands of gamers locked out

The Government has ordered Apple to allow it to access encrypted files uploaded to the cloud by any Apple user worldwide, it has been reported.

UK Government orders Apple to give it access to users’ encrypted data in 'unprecedented attack on privacy'

The wreckage of the small commuter plane that crashed in western Alaska has been found

Missing Alaska Bering Air plane found with all 10 people on board confirmed dead

Hollyoaks star and country singer thought to be son of British couple shot dead in French villa ‘by UK gangsters’

Hollyoaks star and country singer thought to be son of British couple shot dead in French villa ‘by UK gangsters’