Swindon ULEZ not going to happen - council leader

London's ULEZ imposes a £12.50 daily fee on drivers

Fears drivers could be charged to drive into parts of Swindon have been dismissed by the leader of the borough council.

Councillor Jim Robbins said there are no plans to introduce an ultra low emissions zone (ULEZ) or other charging schemes for drivers, in response to a question at a council meeting on Thursday.

Reg Bates, representing Swindon & Wiltshire Residents Association, wanted clarification of wording in the draft Swindon Plan around reducing "the dominance of the car".

Mr Robbins said: “We want to make sure that cars aren’t the only things on the streets. None of this relates to charging people to use the roads.”

In the council document, it sets out plans to "improve key transport gateways and corridors” and to “reduce severance caused by transport corridors and the dominance of the car on the street scene".

Mr Bates said: “I don’t know how you will do that without charging people to use the roads.”

'Not going to happen'

Mr Robbins was unequivocal: “No. Not interested. Not going to do it. Not going to happen.

"It’s a conspiracy theory we see a lot. We’re not going to do it. It’s not happening. I’m trying to be as clear as possible.”

Another member of the residents association, Andrew Osborne, asked: “When we ask the council about this you always say: 'There are no current plans.' Do you have any plans for road charging or Ultra Low Emissions Zones, current or future?”

Mr Robbins answered: “No.”

The independent parliamentary candidate for Swindon North at the recent general election, Deborah Hicks raised another question: “Can you give a yes or no answer? Will you introduce any broad traffic scheme which will involve charging motorists. Yes or No?”

Mr Robbins said: “No.”