In less than three months' time, Sadiq Khan is expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone up to the North and South circulars. The new zone will by 18 times the size of the existing zone covering the whole of West Central. As a result, 140,000 Londoners a day will be charged a £12.50 charge for driving into London.
Commenting on the expansion, Susan Hall, Leader of GLA Conservatives said,
It’s a tax on Londoners' livelihoods, public services and charities. It will hammer small businesses which rely on their vans, NHS staff and care workers who drive because of shift work, and charities such as faith groups and disability clubs that use minibuses.
We've campaigned to stop Khan's ULEZ charge, but he's committed to it going ahead. The Mayor fails to understand that many Londoners have no choice but to drive in London. And that many can't afford his ULEZ charge - or to buy a new vehicle, especially during a pandemic.
GLA Conservatives are now campaigning to limit the impact of the change on hard-working Londoners. They are calling on the Mayor to invest £50 million into Transport for London's ULEZ scrappage schemes to help Londoners scrap their older vehicles and avoid the charge.
On the plans and the support currently available to Londoners wanting to upgrade their vehicles Susan Hall commented,
Currently, two of TfL's scrappage schemes for vans, minibuses and heavy vehicles are suspended, leaving sole traders, small businesses and charities with no support. TfL's only open scheme, which offers grants to low-income and disabled Londoners, is running low on cash. Only a third of people who applied to scrap their car or motorcycle using this scheme have received a grant.
Using City Hall's Business Rate Reserve, GLA Conservatives proposal would reopen the scrappage schemes for vans, minibuses, and heavy vehicles and expand the scheme for cars and motorcycles. Our plan could help thousands of Londoners switch to cleaner vehicles ahead of ULEZ expansion, saving them from Khan's bill while cleaning up our city's air.
Do you support GLA Conservatives' plan?
Adding his voice to calls for the scrappage scheme to be expanded, GLA Member for West Central Tony Devenish said,
The Mayor should be doing everything possible to boost Central London's economy and protect jobs. By ploughing ahead with his ULEZ expansion in October he is failing to do so and is choosing to make life considerably harder for a great many Londoners, who cannot easily afford to replace their vehicles or pay £12.50 a day.
Expanding the scrappage scheme is a true green ction - not just yet another stealth tax. It could be a lifeline for many so please sign the petition and put pressure on Sadiq Khan to do the right thing.
Show your support for the GLA Conservatives' plan by signing their petition calling on the Mayor to invest in ULEZ scrappage schemes here.