Deputy mayor: Ulez scrappage scheme is big enough to help all in need

The deputy mayor of London stated that the scrappage program, designed for the Ultra low emission zone (Ulez), needs to be sufficiently large to assist all Londoners who require it prior to the upcoming expansion.

Seb Dance, the vice mayor in charge of transportation, expressed his certainty that the allocated £160 million fund is now large enough to offer financial assistance to every owner of a non-conforming vehicle who submits an application to the program.

The foundation offers financial aid worth £2,000 for automobiles that do not meet the required standards, and £1,000 for motorcycles. Higher sums are also accessible for vans and minibuses.

Originally established in January of this year, the program initially had a financial allocation of £110 million and exclusively catered to individuals residing in London who qualified for specific benefits. Charitable organizations and small enterprises were also eligible to participate.

However, on Monday morning, the criteria for the program expanded to include all residents of London who possess a non-conforming vehicle, as an extra £50 million has been allocated to the overall funding.

"We are thrilled to announce that today we have the opportunity to broaden the scrap program, previously available only to the most disadvantaged residents of London, to include all Londoners," expressed Mr. Dance with enthusiasm.

"We firmly believe that with the extra capital we have invested in the program, we now possess ample funds. Therefore, we encourage every individual residing in London who possesses a vehicle that does not meet the Ulez compliance standards to submit their application."

The vice mayor clarified that when he said "sufficient," he was referring to the possibility of there being an ample amount of funds available to accommodate all potential applicants.

"That's precisely what we anticipate," he stated.

"Clearly, when the program commenced, it was imperative for us to guarantee an adequate amount of funds for those who are most at risk. At present, we are confident in our ability to expand the program…"

That's the reason we encourage everyone to submit their applications right away, visit the TfL vehicle checker on the website tfl.gov.uk, and verify if your vehicle adheres to the regulations. Around 90% of the cars we observe on a regular day are already following the guidelines.

Over £52 million out of the total fund of £160 million has been distributed up until now, benefiting nearly 13,000 approved requests for grants. This means that approximately £108 million is still available for individuals to claim.

Mr. Dance also mentioned that there had been a significant influx of individuals submitting applications promptly as soon as the program broadened on Monday morning.

Arrangements have been completed for the high number of incoming requests, as the quantity of individuals addressing scrappage inquiries in TfL's telephone helpline has been increased twofold.

Seb Dance, the second in command to the Mayor of London's transportation department in charge

"TfL is rapidly implementing this change, so there's absolutely no excuse for not submitting your application," stated the deputy mayor.

The Ulez mandates that individuals who possess vehicles that do not meet the standards must pay a fee of £12.50 per day when they drive within the designated area.

The limits of the current area encompass the roads known as the North and South Circular. Nevertheless, Mayor Sadiq Khan has plans to broaden its scope, encompassing the entirety of Greater London in the upcoming week, specifically on Tuesday, August 29th.

Transport for London (TfL) predicts that approximately 200,000 motorists operating non-conforming vehicles will potentially face the consequences of the extension.

However, data collected by the RAC indicates that over 690,000 cars registered in all of London, which encompasses the zone already included, are probable to be ineligible.

When you include other types of vehicles like vans and trucks, the total number reported by the RAC rises to 851,065.

City authorities have previously contended that this information is of limited value compared to TfL's calculations in comprehending the zone's influence, as it could encompass vehicles that see infrequent or nonexistent usage.

When questioned recently about whether the extended initiative to replace old vehicles would benefit all individuals in London with cars that do not meet the necessary standards, Mr. Khan responded by stating that some individuals may opt not to replace their cars because they only drive them on a rare occasion. Ultimately, it is their choice.

"What I'm eager to do, however, is to provide assistance whenever it is within our capacity."