Hillingdon Council spent £500k on ULEZ fines for its polluting fleet then bought new diesel vehicles

Hillingdon Council has paid nearly half a million pounds in ULEZ charges since the zone expanded in 2023, because most of its 295 vehicles are diesel and 26 are non-compliant. Only three vehicles in the fleet are electric. Instead of switching to low-emission alternatives, the council bought 32 new diesel trucks, citing high costs and lack of charging infrastructure for electric models. The council declared a climate emergency in 2020 but says diesel still offers the best value for specialist vehicles like waste collection trucks. Local campaigners and opposition councillors argue the council is moving too slowly and falling behind other London boroughs. The council plans to make all vehicles ULEZ compliant by the end of the year.