SOUTHEND’s Labour leader has fiercely rejected Tory claims his party is considering plans for ULEZ-style charging in the city.

Daniel Cowan spoke as Conservatives in Southend distributed pre-election leaflets to homes across the city at the weekend, alleging Labour could bring in London-style congestion charges.

Tories claimed Labour may seek to charge motorists to drive on the A127 or A13, prompting a pre-election spat and furious exchanges on social media.

It came as Kevin Buck, Conservative councillor for transport, said the last Labour-led administration at the Civic Centre commissioned a consultants’ report which outlined a proposal for congestion charging in the city.

Now, both parties have categorically ruled out any charges after the May 2 election.

Mr Cowan said: “Our views on this are simple. We 100 per cent do not support ULEZ in Southend. We would never support ULEZ in Southend.

“We wouldn’t vote for ULEZ in Southend. Under the Labour Party there will be no ULEZ in Southend.

“We just don’t think it is appropriate for where we live, and it is not appropriate for Southend to support it. No-one was talking about ULEZ before the Conservatives set it up as a ‘local bogeyman’.”

Mr Cowan pointed to Tories’ pledge last year of maintaining weekly rubbish collections, which now cannot be achieved, adding: “Using the bins as an example, the only people with a history of doing the thing they claim they will stop are the Tories. If anything, I am worried about them breaking another election promise and lumbering Southend with ULEZ.”

However, Mr Buck stressed: “The Southend Conservative group remain wholly opposed to any such scheme and I can categorically confirm, we would not introduce any emissions charging in Southend. These punitive policies do not achieve any real environmental improvements and are simply revenue generators but do have significant impacts on those least able to afford £12 a day or buy a newer compliant car.

“These schemes are the policies of Labour and other parties, who have chosen to implement them in London and other cities and local authorities they are in control of.”