Richmond Council says ULEZ scrappage scheme still doesn't go far enough

Richmond Council has said that the Mayor of London's expanded ULEZ scrappage scheme still falls too short of what is needed to help the majority of Londoners who are struggling to afford to replace their non-compliant cars.

As part of his announcement, Sadiq Khan praised Richmond upon Thames' Good Move Scheme and said it was a "really good example of... doing the right thing."

Cllr Alexander Ehmann, Chair of Richmond's Transport and Air Quality Committee, said:

"Of course, we're glad Richmond Council has been singled out for its progressive local support package, but compliments won't obscure the fact that the TfL scrappage scheme is still too little, and very nearly too late.  

"Earlier this year we called on the Mayor to postpone the ULEZ expansion and work-up a scrappage scheme that gives support to those that do not currently receive any kind of state benefit but are seriously struggling and cannot afford the large cost of a new car.

"We also supported more comprehensive proposals that were tabled within the GLA, to double the scheme from £100million to over £200 million, but these plans were rejected.

"Mark Twain once said “I can live for two months on a good compliment”, but our residents can’t live on compliments alone. They need a comprehensive TfL scrappage scheme and serious investment in outer London public transport. We’re still waiting.”

Richmond's own Good Move Scheme offers local residents a number of options to help save money and use greener, cleaner forms of transport. These include discounted bikes and cargo bikes, free car club memberships and free Oyster card credit to use on tube, buses and local train services.