Labour MPs write to Sadiq Khan asking to expand ULEZ scrappage scheme
By Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter
Pressure is growing on Sadiq Khan from his own side to expand the scrappage scheme for drivers affected by his plans for the London-wide Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
Several Labour MPs and borough leaders have in recent days said the existing £110million scrappage scheme does not cover enough people whose vehicles will be liable to pay the £12.50 daily charge, once the zone expands to cover the whole of Greater London on August 29.
The existing scrappage scheme is open to Londoners on certain low income or disability benefits with cars, motorcycles and wheelchair accessible vehicles that do not meet the ULEZ emissions standard, as well as eligible sole traders, micro businesses or charities with a registered address in London, to scrap or retrofit a van or minibus.
Eligible applicants can currently get up to £2,000 for scrapping a car or up to £1,000 for scrapping a motorcycle. For wheelchair accessible vehicles there is a payment of £5,000 to scrap or retrofit to the ULEZ standard. Those looking to trade a van or minibus can get between £5,000 and £9,500.
The Mayor has said that around £20million of the £110million scheme has been allocated so far.
Labour MP for Lewisham West and Penge, Ellie Reeves, Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan and Abena Oppong-Asare, MP for Erith and Thamesmead all wrote to the Mayor with a request to expand the scrappage scheme on Friday,
They said that they supported the principle of the ULEZ expanding, but that they had concerns about the restrictiveness of the current eligibility criteria for the scheme – particularly in light of the cost of living crisis.
Ms Reeves said: “The ULEZ is a ground-breaking policy that has already had a huge benefit on the health of millions of Londoners and the expansion will benefit millions more.
“But I am concerned that many people on low incomes and small business will be unduly prohibited from these measures.
“I hope that the Mayor will expand the scheme and that the government will finally back it as well given their previous contributions to scrappage schemes in other cities and the huge public health benefits the ULEZ will have.”
A spokeswoman for Mr Khan responded: “The Mayor is doing all he can to support Londoners through the cost of living crisis but, with lives on the line and the health of children at risk due to London’s toxic air, he is clear that expanding the clean air zone was a difficult decision but a necessary one.
“The latest data from Transport for London shows 90 per cent of cars driving in outer London already meet ULEZ standards and the Mayor expects the number of compliant vehicles to go up even more over the coming months.”
She added: “The scheme is kept under constant review to ensure its effectiveness and the Mayor is looking at what extra support could be provided.
“He also continues to call on the government to support the switch to cleaner vehicles through funding a targeted national scrappage scheme or providing additional funding to London, as it has done for other cities across the country.”
(Picture: TfL)