The Mayor of London has requested government funding to bring the ULEZ scrappage scheme to places like Watford.
Rishi Sunak has been urged by Sadiq Khan to fund financial support for the home counties ahead of the planned expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) in August.
If given, it would provide support for people outside of London who drive into the capital in the most polluting vehicles.
The mayor called on Mr Sunak to match the £110 million he has allocated for London’s scrappage scheme.
It pays up to £2,000 for eligible drivers, such as those on low incomes or with disabilities who need to scrap a car, and up to £9,500 for charities, sole traders and small businesses scrapping or retrofitting vans and minibuses.
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Home counties residents are currently not eligible for the initiative.
Mr Khan is planning to expand the ULEZ to cover the whole of London from August 29 to boost air quality, with a £12.50 daily fee for vehicles not meeting minimum standards.
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This has met fierce resistance from several councils, with five mounting a legal challenge partly based on the scrappage scheme.
In a letter, Mr Khan urged the Prime Minister to “become a doer, rather than a delayer, when it comes to climate action”.
The mayor wrote: “I urge you to use some of the unexpected £30 billion windfall in the public finances to not only match the funding allocated for scrappage in London, but to introduce a targeted scrappage scheme that provides help to those based in the home counties.”
He went on: “London, the South East, and the East of England make net contributions to the Treasury every year, and Londoners pay £500 million of vehicle excise yearly, which is then spent on maintaining roads in other parts of the country.
“For our regions to pay in so much and not be helped to reduce carbon emissions and make our air safer to breathe is unfair and doesn’t make sense.”
He also highlighted the millions in scrappage scheme funding given to other areas introducing clean air zones.
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