Automobile emission zones together with ULEZ have made £418m throughout England since 2021, figures present

More than £400m has been made in charges and penalties from car emission schemes since March 2021, based on analysis.

The evaluation comes forward of the growth of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on Tuesday subsequent week.

Figures obtained by carmaker Peugeot by freedom of data requests discovered {that a} complete of £418m has been generated in England because the spring of 2021 by way of the nation’s charging low emission and clear air zones, of which there are 9 within the nation, based on the Commons Library.

The overwhelming majority – £320m – was made between October 2021 and April 2023 when the present ULEZ zone was introduced in for the realm contained in the North and South Circular roads in London.

From Tuesday subsequent week, the scheme will cowl the entire of Greater London, with essentially the most polluting automobiles of any sort being charged to enter the zone.

London has had a low emission zone affecting simply industrial automobiles – which additionally covers Greater London – since 2008.

Elsewhere, Birmingham’s clear air zone (CAZ) made greater than £79m between June 2021 and April 2023, whereas Bath’s scheme made practically £10 between March 2021 and May 2023.

Some £7m was made by Bradford’s CAZ between September 2022 and June 2023, and Portsmouth’s zone made virtually £1m between December 2021 and May 2023.

Local authorities are legally required to reinvest any incomes from such zones into the “delivery of local transport policies”.

The growth of London’s ULEZ by Sadiq Khan has drawn criticism from all political quarters. It was blamed by the Labour Party for his or her failure to win the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election.

Mr Khan has insisted that he’s implementing the zone to enhance the capital’s air high quality and enhance respiratory well being.

But some – together with Conservative MPs and London Assembly members – say the transfer is a cynical try and stability the London books.

Read extra:
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Where the expanded Greater London zone will cowl

Transport for London says the scheme is “not about making money, but about improving the health and well-being of millions of Londoners”.

It added that every one cash acquired was “reinvested into walking, cycling and public transport”.

There have been stories that the federal government was contemplating overruling Mr Khan utilizing powers within the Greater London Authority Act 1999, however was suggested in opposition to doing so by attorneys.

Responding to the report, Mr Khan mentioned: “Instead of attacking the powers of devolved mayors, Rishi Sunak should focus on working with us and fulfilling his legal obligation to tackle the UK’s toxic air pollution.

“Birmingham, Bath, Sheffield and Tyneside all have clear air zones, funded by the federal government.

“Does the prime minister want people there to breathe dirty air too? Or just London?”

Concerns have additionally been raised about the connection between the mayor’s workplace and scientists concerned in monitoring air high quality in London.

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Mr Khan has repeatedly criticised the federal government for not supporting London’s scrappage scheme for older, extra polluting automobiles, not like in a number of different cities.

Peugeot UK managing director Adam Wood mentioned the corporate was providing value reductions on new electrical vehicles “to help drivers avoid charges and reduce emissions in our urban centres”.