Anti-ULEZ Protestors gear up for “The Big One”, while Khan braces for High Court

Thousands are expected in Trafalgar Square on Saturday for the largest anti-ULEZ protest so far to stop the expansion, as Mr Khan faces a legal battle over the issue.

Members of the “Action against ULEZ extension” group on social media organised the protest, which they called “The Big One”. Peter Fortune, Conservative London Assembly Member (GLA) for Bexley and Bromley, and Gareth Bacon, Conservative MP for Orpington, will be speaking at the event.

Dean Leslie, 42, an administrator for the group and organiser for the protest, explained: “It’s very much a family event being in the Easter Holidays; bring your family and friends down; there’s going to be some MPs speaking on behalf of their boroughs.”

Yesterday afternoon, anti-ULEZ protestors received a major boost as the High Court granted the judicial review to proceed on two out of the five grounds put forward by five Conservative-led councils in February.

A spokesperson for the mayor has told the BBC that the expansion would carry on “without delay”. “We will continue to robustly defend his life-saving decision to expand the ULEZ,” said Sadiq Khan’s office.

Despite recent news, Mr Leslie said: “We need to build in numbers and protest more and let them realise what’s going on.”

Recent outrage has been sparked by the gradual introduction of cameras preparing to enforce the ULEZ across Greater London, Yahoo reported that some have been vandalised. Mr Khan had already enraged his ULEZ opposition when he described them as “far right” at a public meeting in March.

According to Nicholas Rogers, GLA Conservative for Hounslow, Richmond, and Kingston: “The protests are a symptom of the enormous public backlash that there has been against this policy.”

Mr Rogers also commented on the recent High Court ruling: “There is a very strong case that the mayor has overstepped his bounds on this, so if the mayor doesn’t stop voluntarily, he will end up being forced to.”

Several other protests have been prompted by recent controversies surrounding the expansion, with action planned in Croydon, Orpington, and Barking throughout April and May.

Neil Garratt, a GLA Conservative for Croydon and Sutton, has urged the mayor to “heed” the “warning” of the protests.

However, LBC reported this week that Sadiq Khan is considering scrapping ULEZ in favour of a “pay-as-you-drive” scheme.

But with the protests and judicial review, Mr Garratt demanded the mayor “rethink the scheme before it’s too late”.