Havering's council leader has questioned City Hall over its claims the expanded Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is "clearly working".

Council leader Ray Morgon said he was "disappointed" and "surprised" over a lack of Havering-specific ULEZ results after a six month report found air quality across London was improving.

ULEZ was expanded to cover the whole of the capital by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in August last year. It applied a £12.50 charge on non-compliant vehicles, including diesel engines.

A spokesperson for City Hall said six months on the London-wide expansion was "clearly working" and emissions were "dramatically lower" compared to a scenario without ULEZ.

Fine inhalable particle (PM2.5) exhaust emissions from cars in outer London are estimated by City Hall to be 22 per cent lower than without the expansion.

However, Cllr Morgon questioned the viability and efficacy of ULEZ in Havering amid concerns it has become an "extra tax" for residents.

"I am disappointed and somewhat surprised though that for some reason we are unable to see any results broken down for Havering," he said.

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"We really need to see that this has made a difference rather than being an extra tax for cash strapped residents."

The council leader urged City Hall to produce Havering-specific data to see whether ULEZ was working in the boroughThe council leader urged City Hall to produce Havering-specific data to see whether ULEZ was working in the borough (Image: Havering Council)

Cllr Morgon also queried whether ULEZ could be credited for improving air quality in Havering.

"The air quality of the borough has actually been on the upward trend anyway, so it would be good to see the evidence of how ULEZ has accelerated this," he said.

In response, a spokesperson for Mr Khan said that toxic air takes the lives of an estimated 4,000 Londoners each year, and the ULEZ expansion scheme has meant the capital city is set to be within legal limits by 2025.

The council leader dubbed City Hall's response to a request for Havering-specific data "unsatisfactory" and called for air quality monitoring equipment to be installed there.

"We don’t think this is good enough," he said. "Air quality monitoring equipment can be installed to solve this problem.

"People will invariably improve their vehicles so there needs to be proof that ULEZ is actually still making a difference and isn’t just another road pricing tax.

"The mayor’s office must do better.”