Richmond Council has hit out at a plan to set up an Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) across London for not doing enough to clamp down on vehicle pollution.

The Mayor of London confirmed on Friday that the ULEZ would be expanded up to the North and South Circular boundary in 2021.

The plan, which seeks to reduce toxic air quality in London, would replace the T-Charge and see drivers who use non-compliant vehicles pay a daily charge of £12.50.

The council says these plans need to be more ambitious and that the extension should stretch to the M25 to clamp down on polluting vehicles travelling into London.

It says the ULEZ would split the town centre of East Sheen and impact many residents, whose vehicles do not meet the ULEZ standards.

Cllr Alexander Ehmann, Richmond Council cabinet member for highways and air quality, said: “Tackling air quality in the borough is one of our top priorities.

“The only acceptable decision for Richmond is total ULEZ coverage of the whole borough.

“The Mayor has heard the arguments that the ULEZ should extend all the way to the M25 and it is disappointing that he chose not to be this bold.

“An extension to the M25 would have avoided a hard border for the ULEZ in the middle of our borough.

“If unchanged, the Mayor’s present plan will only displace the traffic trying to avoid the boundaries and could increase poor air quality in areas outside the zone, some of which are already exceeding legal limits for pollution.

“I urge the Mayor of London not to waste this opportunity and to consider a further expansion of the air quality zone that will benefit the whole of London, and not divide our borough with an air quality border.

“That is why I am writing to the Mayor of London to ask him to reconsider his plans and to encourage him consider a larger extension to the air quality zone that will benefit the whole of London, the whole of Richmond upon Thames and not divide our community with a damaging and artificial air quality border.”