ULEZ: 5,000 scrappage grants approved for low-income and disabled Londoners

Nearly 5,000 scrappage grants have been approved for Londoners to dispose of their non-ULEZ vehicles, Transport for London (TfL) says.

Since the end of January, the vehicle scrappage scheme has committed nearly £18m to individuals, small businesses and charities, according to TfL.

The scrappage scheme, which only applies to people living in London, is designed to help those on lower incomes, people receiving disability benefits, sole traders, small businesses and charities.

The Ultra Low Emission Zone, which will reach outer London from August 29, will charge some drivers of the most polluting cars £12.50 per day.

Of the TfL cash given so far, £13.5m has been allocated for drivers of vans and minibuses, the majority going to help small businesses, while more than £4m has been committed to Londoners who own non-compliant cars and motorcycles.

This comes as City Hall urges London motorists to check whether they stand to benefit from the scheme, amid concerns that thousands may not realise they are eligible for financial help.

TfL said that 4,833 applications had been approved to date – 2,183 to scrap cars and motorbikes (£4,174,000 of grants) and 2,650 to scrap vans and minibuses (£13,553,500).

Recipients include almost 1,700 low-income drivers, 500 disabled Londoners, 1,329 sole traders, 1,290 “micro businesses” – those with 10 employees or fewer – and 31 charities.

The scrappage scheme offers Londoners on lower incomes grants of up to £2,000 to replace their high-emitting vehicles.

Charities, sole traders and businesses with 10 or fewer employees registered in London can apply to scrap a van for a £5,000 grant or a minibus for a £7,000 grant, or scrap and replace a van or minibus with a fully electric vehicle for a £7,500 or £9,500 grant respectively.

TfL says more Londoners could be eligible for the scheme on the basis of their income than they realise.

People likely to be eligible include couples with no children earning up to £36,000 a year and in rented accommodation.

A couple with two children, renting and earning in excess of £50,000 a year could also qualify if they receive Universal Credit.

Pensioners who receive housing benefits to help pay their rent may also qualify.

Christina Calderato, TfL’s Director of Strategy and Policy said: “It is great to see that scrappage grants are already playing a significant role in supporting smaller businesses, those on low incomes, disabled people and charities to get ready for the expansion.

“While the vast majority of cars driving in outer London on an average day are compliant, I urge drivers to use our vehicle checker and if they have a non-compliant vehicle, check their eligibility for the scrappage scheme to help them make the switch to greener and cleaner travel.”

The City Hall Conservatives said the grants were “woefully inadequate” and were forcing some charities to axe services.

Those affected include Dogs On The Street, Wallington Animal Rescue, Charity Begins At Home and Hatton School & Special Needs Centre, according to Tory transport spokesman Nick Rogers.

He said: “The scrappage scheme is woefully inadequate and will do next to nothing to address the damage the Ulez expansion plans will cause.”

However Alex Achilleos, Managing Director of Inside Out Eventz Ltd said: “The scrappage scheme has enabled us to take one of our older, polluting vans off the road and buy one that meets the ULEZ standards.

“As a family business we are pleased to be able to contribute to the action that is being taken to clean up the capital’s toxic air and protect the health of future generations.”