London mayor plans to charge Essex residents £12.50 clean air charge
Sadiq Kahn's team says it's "necessary to tackle toxic air pollution and the climate crisis"
Proposals to give ministers the authority to review and overturn "controversial" transport schemes introduced by the Mayor of London have been put forward in Parliament, raising concerns about the expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) into Essex.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan's plan to expand the ULEZ has been challenged by five Conservative-led councils and will impose a daily fee of £12.50 on drivers in outer London who do not meet required emissions standards from August 29.
The proposed ULEZ borders will reach Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, and Surrey.
Conservative former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers has suggested that the government should be able to intervene when there are "very serious concerns" about decisions relating to transport and air quality.
Villiers said that her proposals could apply to other projects, including low traffic neighbourhoods and moves to build on station car parks. She will introduce the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (Amendment) Bill in the Commons.
The mayor's team says that he is responding to a "health emergency" by taking action to tackle "toxic air" in the capital, and a spokeswoman for the mayor has criticized backbench MPs for "playing politics" and wasting parliamentary time.