Request ID: FOI-0571-2223 Date published: 04 July 2022
You asked
I was hoping you could tell me why so much of the A3 has been excluded from the propsed ULEZ expansion?
I live on Somerset Close KT35RF and currently deal with a lot of polution due to the heavy usage of the A3. As someone who suffers from asthma I was hoping the expansion of ULEZ would reduce the polution and give cleaner air for myself and my neighbours.
However I was disappointed to see that my street and the A3 directly beside it have been excluded from the expansion. I cant see why either as areas further out e.g. Chessington and the areas on the far side of the A3 from where I live have been included.
All I can see this causing is an increase of traffic in my area as people try and avoid the ULEZ area meaning more cars using the A3 and the surrounding roads of Old Malden/ Worcester Park.
From my understanding the expansion was meant to cover the Greater London area, which I do live in so I wish to know why the decision to exclude us was made and what studies have been done to show what impact there will be on the polution we face due to your decision.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0571-2223/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 7 June 2022 asking for information about the ULEZ expansion.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
The LEZ boundary is considered suitable for the proposed London-wide ULEZ as it broadly follows the Greater London Authority boundary, is already in place, and was specifically designed so it provides opportunities for non-compliant vehicles to divert away from travelling into London. If the A3 was included in the expanded scheme no suitable diversionary route could be provided.
The expected impact of the proposed expansion of the ULEZ is that non-compliant vehicle owners will either upgrade their vehicles, pay the charge, or make different journey choices. Only those non-compliant vehicle owners who do not wish to pay the charge would consider alternative routes, and it is not expected that these vehicles would increase traffic flows on the A3 in this area specifically – it is one of the main routes into London. We expect vehicles using the A3 to be cleaner and emit less pollution than without the proposed scheme because the proportion of polluting vehicles should reduce. Traffic volumes on the A3 specifically in the location of the postcode provided are forecast to reduce very slightly by around 0.7% and emissions of NOx are forecast to reduce by about 8% overall.
If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt
FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
