This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Remove local authority powers to introduce LTNs, CAZs, LEZs and ULEZs
We want the Government to remove local authority powers to introduce any charges or restrictions on the free use and movement of cars.
More details
These schemes have not been voted for by the public and therefore there is no mandate.
These schemes, which impose charges or restrict car use, have been forced on the public. We believe elected representatives have not listened to their constituents and are pressing ahead with these schemes regardless, and that national and local government have forgotten that they are there to represent their constituents.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 19 January 2024
The Government published its Plan for Drivers on 2nd October to support people’s freedom to use their cars and curb over-zealous enforcement measures.
Read the response in full
The Government wants to make sure traffic management is proportionate, has community support and delivers its objectives. The Plan for Drivers sets out plans to look again at how local councils use their powers to ensure they are acting fairly.
The Plan for Drivers can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/plan-for-drivers.
This follows the Prime Minister’s decision to review low-traffic neighbourhoods, which will report in due course.
It’s important to be clear that implementing these schemes are issues for local councils. The Government is carefully considering how this should operate in future.
With regard to the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion, this was a decision taken by the Mayor of London, which the government has no power to overrule – other than ensuring that no government grant funding can be used to support the expansion.
The Government is carefully examining the issue of protections for drivers and will make further announcements in due course if necessary.
Department for Transport
This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/637517)
Related activity
Petitions Committee requests a revised response from the Government
The Petitions Committee (the group of MPs who oversee the petitions system) has considered the Government’s response to this petition. They felt that the response sets out existing local authority powers, and Government work in this area, but does not directly respond to the request for local authority powers to introduce LTNs, CAZs, LEZs and ULEZs to be removed. They have therefore asked the Government to provide a revised response.
When the Committee receives a revised response from the Government, we will publish this and share it with you.
Original Government response
The Government published its Plan for Drivers on 2nd October to support people’s freedom to use their cars and curb over-zealous enforcement measures.
We want to make sure traffic management is proportionate, has community support and delivers its objectives. The Plan for Drivers sets out plans to look again at how local councils use their powers to ensure they are acting fairly. The Plan for Drivers can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/plan-for-drivers.
LTNs have no single definition, rather they are a collection of measures to remove through traffic from roads, usually in residential areas, not to prevent access by car and it is possible to drive to any property in an LTN. The Government is reviewing LTNs installed since 2020 excluding historical street layouts. Once the LTN review is complete the Government will consider any next steps.
Some local authorities in England are introducing Clean Air Zones (CAZs) to reduce roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations to legal limits in the shortest possible time. Government has consistently made clear that local authorities are expected to consider new and creative solutions to tackling NO2 with a view to minimising undue impact on the motorist and should only implement a CAZ if other non-charging measures cannot deliver compliance with legal NO2 limits in the shortest possible time.
With regard to the ULEZ, transport is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL), including decisions on road schemes which charge users. Government had no powers to intervene in the Mayor’s decision to expand the ULEZ. Government grant funding, via the longer-term funding settlement, however could not be used to cover the cost of implementing the scheme.
This is the Mayor of London's decision and he is accountable for it. Details on how to contact TfL including by post, phone and online feedback form are available on their website. This can be accessed at: https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/.
The LGSCO investigates complaints from members of the public who consider that they have suffered an injustice arising from maladministration in local authorities. The LGSCO is a free service and is completely independent of the Government and councils. Further information about the LGSCO can be found on their website at: www.lgo.org.uk or by telephone on 0300 0610614.
Department for Transport
This response was given on 17 November 2023. The Petitions Committee then requested a revised response, that more directly addressed the request of the petition.