ULEZ expansion is hammer blow

In less than a month, Sadiq Khan will slap 140,000 motorists a day with a £12.50 charge for driving between the North and South Circulars. He hasn't given them time to recover from the pandemic, let alone prepare for Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion. It's unfair and a hammer blow to struggling Londoners.

Sadly, Khan is offering no lifeline to Londoners who can't afford a new vehicle or his daily charge. Small businesses have been without support for over a year when the Mayor suspended the heavy vehicle and van scrappage schemes.

To make matters worse, thousands of low-income Londoners aren't even eligible for the Mayor's cars and motorcycle scheme which only offers grants to those on certain benefits.

My Conservative colleagues and I have identified £50 million of funds from City Hall's reserves which the Mayor could invest in scrappage schemes. Our plan would offer grants to thousands of low income and disabled Londoners, small businesses and charities to help them scrap their older vehicles and buy a cleaner one.

With this new sizeable investment, Transport for London (TfL) could reopen the two closed schemes for vans and heavy vehicles, helping sole traders, small businesses and charities prepare for ULEZ.

It would also enable TfL to widen the scheme for cars and motorbikes by offering grants to Londoners who earn less than £30,000, as Birmingham City Council does.

If Khan refuses to drop his punitive charge - he must back our plan to help Londoners switch their vehicles and avoid the charge.

Article by Keith Prince AM first published in the Ilford Recorder.