London’s Mayor has announced that tens of thousands more Londoners, including all those receiving child benefit and all small businesses in the capital, will be eligible for financial support to replace polluting vehicles from the end of July.
Sadiq Khan says this is part of a major extension of London’s biggest ever scrappage scheme ahead of the Ultra Low Emission Zone expanding on 29 August.
The Evening Standard newspaper points out this follows interventions from several Labour MPs and council leaders who argued that their poorest constituents would suffer financially when the clean air scheme expands to outer London boroughs in August.
In a statement, City Hall says: “Having listened to feedback over recent months and his determination to support as many Londoners as possible to transition to cleaner vehicles, the Mayor has announced the scheme run by TfL will be extended”.
The changes include:
- Allowing all Londoners receiving child benefit to apply. There are currently 874,710 London families in receipt of child benefit, with 578,315 in outer London.
- Allowing businesses registered in London with fewer than 50 employees to apply. Currently, only those with up to 10 staff can apply.
- Allowing charities operating in London to scrap or retrofit up to three vans or minibuses instead of just one.
- A new grace period for sole traders, microbusinesses, small businesses, and registered charities who have ordered brand-new compliant vehicles, but have been informed that delivery will be delayed past 29 August when the larger zone goes live – or if they have booked an approved retrofit appointment for a non-compliant light van or minibus before that date.
The scrappage scheme will be kept under ongoing review and the Mayor has also asked TfL to actively monitor applications from care workers to ensure they are benefitting from the money available.
(File picture – RAC)
