Five councils have spent a combined total of £730,941 trying to legally challenge the expansion of the Ulez scheme.
Four London authorities, Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and Surrey County Council contested Sadiq Khan’s plans to expand the low-emission scheme into Greater London.
However, the Conservative-led councils were unsuccessful after the High Court ruled that it was lawful in July.
The total costs include £230,941 in disbursements and £500,000 in legal costs to Transport for London.
WATCH NOW: A tank has driven through London to avoid a Ulez charge
Split equally, each council will pay £147,853.20.
Bromley Council welcomed the costs, calling it a “sound and balanced risk”.
Councillor Colin Smith said the sum for the legal challenge equated to “£1 to every home in the borough once” and the council “continues to regard the associated costs as a sound and balanced risk for Bromley residents as whole”.
Legal action against Khan’s scheme began in February as the five councils opposed the expansion which would mean more non-compliant vehicles would have to pay the daily charge of £12.50 for driving into the city.
ULEZ LATEST:
Bromley is one of the boroughs that tried to legally challenge the expansion
PAHowever, in July, Justice Swift said the mayor's expansion decision “was within his powers”.
He wrote: “Having carefully considered the decision published for the purposes of consultation, I'm satisfied sufficient information was provided to permit this wanting to respond to the consultation to provide informed responses.
“I'm further satisfied that when taking the decision on the grant to meet the cost of the vehicle scrappage scheme, the mayor understood the likely provision that would be made.
“While the consultation conducted was not in-depth, it was lawful.”
Khan welcomed the ruling, stating: “This landmark decision is good news as it means we can proceed with cleaning up the air in outer London.”
The Ulez expanded on August 29PACouncils bordering London have refused to put up the signs that warn drivers that they are about to enter the Ulez.
Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and Thurrock have rejected calls from TFL to put up the signs.
Slough is the only one of the seven local authorities bordering the capital that has agreed to the signage.
Khan’s spokesman said: “Councils have a responsibility to ensure their residents and all motorists are aware of important changes that may impact drivers.
“By refusing to allow TfL (Transport for London) to install Ulez warning signs at key junctions, these councils outside London are not fulfilling their responsibility to ensure their residents and other motorists have all the information they need to avoid driving into the Ulez inadvertently.”
