I live outside the ULEZ zone, but work as a social worker in a london Borough that falls inside the new expansion zone.
My car is not ULEZ compliant (2006 plate diesel) but runs perfectly fine. I use my car for work purposes for visits to homes and schools, and can claim back 45p per mile on expenses.
My borough has said they will not be allowing ULEZ charges to be claimed on expenses, but will instead provide a bus pass for those that need it. I have worked out the journey time for an average week, and I'll spend approx 6+ hours more a week making my visits by bus than I would by car.
It's so frustrating- that's basically almost a whole day extra a week I'll "lose" in working hours sitting on a bus, yet I'll have the same amount of work to get through. It just seems so shortsighted, and I'm so annoyed. I explained this to HR, and said that if they paid the ULEZ charge for one or two days a week, I could do all my weekly visits on those days and wouldn't lose any working hours sitting idly on a bus, and it makes more financial sense to the council than to have a social worker being unproductive for 6+ hours a week. They're not budging.
So bloody frustrating.