Less than half of ULEZ grace period applications approved by TfL
Fewer than half of applications for an ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) grace period have been approved so far according to data held by Transport for London (TfL). The measure is designed to lessen the impact of the £12.50 daily fee for people travelling across London on – which was expanded to cover London up to the Essex border on August 29 – on vulnerable people.
Temporary or permanent exemptions are, according to MyLondon[1], offered to those who are registered as disabled, on disability benefits, with a wheelchair accessible vehicle, and those who have been clinically assessed by medical professionals[2] as too ill to travel to an NHS[3] appointment on public transport. London-licensed taxis, small businesses with fewer than 50 employees, micro businesses with up to ten employees, charities and some sole traders are also eligible.
The latest figures[4], published regularly by TfL, state that 4,715 applications (including just under 4,000 submitted as applicants claimed to be in receipt of disabled benefit and more than 650 suggesting they owned a WAV) for the grace period have been received. But, only 2,002 have so far been deemed as being accompanied by sufficient evidence and subsequently granted.
TfL and Sadiq Khan have reassured drivers that nine out of 10 cars seen driving in Outer London on an average day are ULEZ compliant. You can read the requirements and apply for a ULEZ grace period here[7]. You can check if your vehicle is ULEZ compliant here[8] . Londoners who own a non-compliant car are now eligible to apply for a £2,000 scrappage grant from City Hall. You can do so here[9] .
ULEZ[10] was expanded back on August 29 to cover the whole of Greater London, including parts of historic Essex such as Ilford, Romford and Dagenham. It means the scheme now borders existing parts of Essex such as Brentwood[11] and Grays.
It’s currently expected to cost the Mayor’s Office £75 million to supply and install all the necessary street infrastructure, such as cameras and signs, for the zone’s new boundaries, MyLondon reports[12].
References
- ^ MyLondon (www.mylondon.news)
- ^ medical professionals (www.essexlive.news)
- ^ NHS (www.essexlive.news)
- ^ The latest figures (content.tfl.gov.uk)
- ^ The amount of money TfL made from ULEZ fines in one year – before it was even expanded to Essex border (www.essexlive.news)
- ^ Essex man who claims he shouldn’t be paying ULEZ says TfL have ‘ignored him’ (www.essexlive.news)
- ^ here (tfl.gov.uk)
- ^ here (tfl.gov.uk)
- ^ here (tfl.gov.uk)
- ^ ULEZ (www.essexlive.news)
- ^ Brentwood (www.essexlive.news)
- ^ MyLondon reports (www.mylondon.news)