We are about to see the mother of all David versus Goliath battles, and all right-minded people must support David in this case.
No one can be unaware of the decade after decade political war on the UK’s 37 million drivers.
This chronic cash-grabbing conflict has always been rationalised behind a virtue-signalling green ideology that aims to be environmentally virtuous so that politicians stealthily fleece motorists at every opportunity.
The leading cash-grabbing politico is, of course, the Mayor of London.
Unsurprisingly, Sadiq Khan’s pointless undemocratic Ulez has generated the most significant funds from the low-emissions zones across UK cities, from fees and PCNs, accounting for more than £1 billion since April 2019.
It is the nation's biggest zone and was the first to charge motorists based on the emissions standards of their cars, vans, trucks, and motorcycles. By law, all net revenue generated by the Ulez must be reinvested into London’s transport network.
Sadiq Khan's undemocratic Ulez cash grab will lead TfL towards financial ruin - Howard Cox
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That aside, our biblical David, also known as the redoubtable Noel Willcox, a small business owner and Army Reservist, has recently won a landmark case against Transport for London (TfL). Willcox demonstrated that the LEZ scheme was unlawful due to non-compliant signage, resulting in a multi-million-pound scandal and paving the way for potential refunds to millions of motorists.
The latest in this seemingly never-ending saga has seen the London Mayor facing scrutiny after a transport adjudicator court ruled that (Low Emission Zone) LEZ charges were unlawfully enforced.
The adjudicator concluded: “I cannot be satisfied that the Low Emission Zone signs are authorised and lawful.” However, that tribunal is not of a high enough level to be legally binding in other courts.
That is, until now! That verdict now has the full endorsement of a Bedford County Court judge who agreed with the adjudicator’s original ruling.
The adjudicator’s ruling, which TfL never appealed, stated that no charge was lawfully due.
But, despite this ruling, TfL continued to pursue Willcox for payment and even sought to strike out his claim in County Court. However, on March 20, 2025, the County Court upheld the Adjudicator’s decision, confirming that the LEZ was unenforceable under UK law due to failures in signage compliance with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2016. He has now enforced that decision in the County Court.
As a consequence, since 2016, TfL has unlawfully charged millions of drivers under the LEZ scheme. If drivers follow Willcox’s legal pathway, TfL may be forced to refund hundreds of millions, even billions, of pounds in unlawful charges.
The decision also raises serious political and legal questions about London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who not only failed to act on these legal failings but went onto to expand the LEZ into the Ulez, despite evidence that both schemes operate under non-compliant signage.
Noel Willcox's victories and new court battle have far-reaching implications.
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Khan’s track record of ignoring public consultations and scientific evidence will not hold him in good standing, presiding over a likely payback of funds to millions of businesses and drivers, he has ruthlessly exploited for personal gain.
Noel, of Berkhamsted, Herts, said: “It is simple, the signs do not make it clear to the driver that they can incur a charge and at what times that charge is in force.
“I have already won a legal case against TfL. Now I’m taking them on to get justice not just for me, but for thousands of motorists hit by penalties in these zones.”
And so, on Thursday March 10th, 2025, Willcox submitted to the London Central County Court an application to declare not only LEZ signs as being unlawful but the whole of the Ulez zone signage as well.
Noel’s legal victories and this new court fight have far-reaching implications. They draw attention to the broader system of charges and penalties associated with such zones right across the UK, prompting a reassessment of their implementation and communication strategies.
For example, Royal Mail’s delayed deliveries, contributing to drivers’ lack of awareness, underscore the challenges posed by poor planning and the delivery of incorrect information.
In conclusion, Noel Willcox’s successful challenges of LEZ signage’s legality has thrown the Ulez cash grab into turmoil.
