Preparations underway ready for new emissions charge on older vehicles approaching High Barnet

Barnet appears to be leading the way among outer London boroughs in the speed with which cameras and equipment is being installed by Transport for London for the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone which will impose a £12.50-a-day levy on older vehicles.

A control box linked to overhead cameras on lampposts and traffic lights has just been erected on Hadley Green at what will be an outer perimeter of the zone.

According to the latest figures 41 cameras have now been installed on roads across the Borough of Barnet where vehicles enter Greater London – slightly more than Enfield (37) and Hounslow (31).

The charge for entering the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone will apply from August 29.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, estimates that only 15 per of vehicles within the outer London boroughs will be liable for the daily £12.50 fee, but there have been widespread protests from the owners of older vehicles.

Introduction of the charge is being challenged in the High Court by four Conservative-controlled boroughs, Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon, and Surrey County Council.

The sudden appearance of a black TfL control box, just beside the Hadley Green duck pond at the junction of the High Street and Hadley Green Road, has angered nearby residents and heritage campaigners because of its close proximity to the newly restored pink marble water fountain.

Peter Wanders, who organised the £30,000 restoration of the drinking fountain – which is still fenced off until the area has been landscaped – said he couldn’t believe his eyes when a TfL contractor started digging the foundations so close to the fountain.

“There has been no consultation either with the Heritage of London Trust or Hadley Residents Association and we do think it is very unsightly,” said Mr Wanders.

“I shall suggest to Barnet Council that the parks and open spaces department should ask for the box to be painted green and for some planting around it to improve the appearance of the area.”

David Chapman, who lives opposite and is a member of the resident association, said he was concerned as to where cameras might be sited and whether they might be equally intrusive.

The existing inner London ULEZ was created in 2019 and then expanded in 2021 to the boundaries of the North and South Circular roads. 

Mr Khan said that as a result harmful pollution levels in central London have been reduced by almost half.

Expansion of the zone to include outer London boroughs such as Barnet was announced last year.

However, four key roads serving High Barnet – which are just within the borough boundary – have been excluded from the new zone and can still be used without charge by vehicles that fail to meet the emissions standards. They are:

A1000 (Great North Road) north from Barnet town centre, to and from junction with St Albans Road

A1081 (St Albans Road) to and from junction with Barnet High Street

A411 (Barnet Road) to and from Stirling Corner to junction with Galley Lane

Galley Lane

These four roads provide strategic routes connecting areas just outside the new Greater London ULEZ such as Potters Bar and Borehamwood.

Drivers heading south on the A1 will have an alternative route to avoid having to cross the Barnet borough boundary and risk being caught in cameras at the start of the ULEZ zone.

By turning left along the A411 (Barnet Road) drivers can continue east to The Arkley public house and then turn left again and head north along Galley Lane which is also excluded from the zone.

Drivers heading towards Barnet on Galley Lane would have the option to turn right into Barnet Road and then head west for the A1 roundabout at Stirling Corner

Similarly, traffic heading south on the A1081 (St Albans Road) can turn left at the junction with Barnet High Street and head north along the A1000 (Great North Road) through Hadley Green and Monken Hadley.

The reverse option would be available to vehicles heading south towards Barnet on the A1000 which could turn right into the St Albans Road.

The existing Low Emissions Zone, which imposes a charge of older heavy goods vehicles, starts at the High Street’s junction with St Albans Road and this would become the start of the new Greater London ULEZ. Vehicles heading south on the High Street would be subject to the new charge.

Exclusion of the four roads listed above will assist the movement of vehicles between farms and riding stables just north of the Barnet boundary – but one downside is that it could lead to even more older cars and vehicles parking along the St Albans Road to avoid paying the £12.50 ULEZ charge.

There are similar exclusions for key sections of other main roads and motorways which are within the boundaries of London boroughs and where alternative routes will be available to avoid entering the zone.