Scaffolder wins case ruling that low emission zone signs aren't lawful

A blow for ULEZ expansion plan? Scaffolder wins legal ruling that signs for ultra-low emission zone’s sister scheme are not lawful

• It comes ahead of the controversial expansion of the hated scheme tomorrow 

A scaffolder has won a legal ruling that signs for London’s Low Emission Zone – the sister scheme of Sadiq Khan’s hated ULEZ – are not lawful.

Noel Willcox, 48, ran up fines of £11,500 for driving a company truck to and from a depot in Harefield, North West London.

Drivers at the wheel of highly polluting vans and HGVs must pay up to £300 a day under the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) or face huge penalties.

Mr Willcox, from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, refused to pay and took his appeal to a tribunal, which ruled in his favour, saying Transport for London (TfL) signs for the LEZ were not ‘authorised and lawful’.

He told the Sun: ‘The Road Traffic Act states if there is a risk that motorists are going to be charged, you have to let them know.

Drivers at the wheel of highly polluting vans and HGVs must pay up to £300 a day under the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) or face huge penalties

It comes as the London Mayor’s controversial expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone comes into effect from tomorrow

‘But the low emission zone signs just say ‘Lez’ or ‘Ulez Zone’. They don’t make it clear about charges.’

READ MORE: Residents inside charge-free corridor in ULEZ expansion zone say they are being offered up to £100-A-MONTH by motorists who want to park on their drives to avoid paying the £12.50 fee

His triumph is not binding in other courts but could be referred to in other cases, according to Nick Freeman, the motoring lawyer known as ‘Mr Loophole’.

TfL insisted the signs were deemed lawful by the Department of Transport more than a decade ago and said it is investigating why certain evidence was not submitted.

It comes as the London Mayor’s controversial expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone comes into effect from tomorrow. 

The scheme will see thousands of people driving older, more polluting cars charged £12.50 a day to drive into the capital. 

It was reported over the weekend that desperate motorists are offering people living along a ‘charge-free corridor’ as much as £100 a month to park on their driveways.

Those travelling into the city would save more than £250 a month if they parked along Moor Lane, in Chessington, south-west London.

Drivers travelling along the road, which becomes Bridge Road, do not have to pay the ULEZ charge, but should they turn off at any stage they will immediately enter the zone.

People leaving the suburban street to access a train station, pub car park and numerous businesses will have to pay the £12.50 charge if their vehicle does not meet emissions standards.

The ULEZ scheme will see thousands of people driving older, more polluting cars charged £12.50 a day to drive into the capital

It means motorists travelling along the route must stay on the road, drive all the way round a roundabout and go back the same way to avoid being charged.

Meanwhile, six out of the seven local authorities immediately bordering London have refused to sign a legal agreement with TfL to allow ULEZ signs within their borders.

The act of protest has been mounted by Surrey County Council, Kent County Council, Essex County Council, Hertfordshire Council, Buckinghamshire Council and Thurrock Council, which are Tory-led and have been vocal about the financial impact ULEZ will have on its residents.

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