FIVE Conservative-led London councils, including Hillingdon, have won a judicial review into plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the edge of London.

They had launched legal action over the expanded scheme, which is due to begin in August.

The High Court has allowed for the case to proceed on two out of five grounds of their appeal.

The Mayor of London, however, says the expansion plans will continue.

A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan said the mayor had noted the court refused permission for the majority of the appeal grounds.

He added it was a shame some local authorities had chosen to attempt a costly and misguided legal challenge instead of focusing on the health of those they represent.

The current ULEZ scheme covers all parts of city between the North and South Circular roads, but it is planned to expand it to cover the whole of the capital from August 29.

That would include Hillingdon’s borders with Bucks and Hertfordshire.

People who drive in the zone in a high polluting non-compliant vehicle will need to pay a daily charge of £12.50.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon commented: “We all agree tackling air pollution is one of the most important issues for Londoners. Poor air quality is literally costing lives.

“However, any expansion of ULEZ should come with investment in public transport to offset the costs for communities in outer London.

“The Mayor should have backed our budget amendment, which doubled the scrappage fund, opening it up to everyone, alongside more buses, to mitigate the ULEZ  expansion.”