Sadiq Khan calls on PM to fund ULEZ scrappage scheme for Home Counties

Having faced calls to increase the £110m already allocated to the ULEZ expansion scrappage scheme, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called upon the Prime Minister to use some of his reported £30bn public finances windfall to match his commitment to getting polluting vehicles off the streets of the capital.

More significantly perhaps, he suggests Downing Street go as far as to: ‘introduce a targeted scrappage scheme that provides help to those based in the home counties who drive into London with the most polluting vehicles.’ He concludes: ‘I also hope my approach on eligibility for scrappage and exemptions can be followed nationally.’

Close up of an Ultra Low Emission Zone sign

He goes on to say: ‘Following an order by the Supreme Court to tackle the illegal levels of air pollution across the country, the Government has been working with other cities and regions to introduce clean air zones. This has included some national support for local scrappage schemes, including in Greater Manchester (£120m), Bristol (£42m), Birmingham (£38m) and Bradford (£30m). But London and the home counties, including Surrey and Kent, have not received even a penny of support from central government.’

This move is clearly intended to placate concerns from areas outside the expansion zone whose objection to the scheme is, in places, as vocal as from those within it. Essex and Buckinghamshire for example are refusing to allow warning signs and cameras to be placed on their land, while Surrey County Council recently joined four London borough in mounting a legal challenge against the expansion.

The Mayor closed by saying: ‘So I urge you to become a doer, rather than a delayer, when it comes to climate action and reducing air pollution, and to bring an end to the failure of leadership we have seen at the top of national government on these vital issues for far too long.’

The take up on the scrappage scheme since it began last month has been enthusiastic, leading to speculation that it may quickly become over-subscribed.