To think there should be a ULEZ concessions scheme?

[declutteringAgain]

For those on very low incomes affected by this ?
Either a reduced rate or a certain number of ‘free’ trips per UC assessment period or similar?

I work full time - more than full time actually - and receive universal credit.

Then what is the point of ulez. The whole point is to clean up the air quality!!

And I'm sorry but even I'm getting fed up of how much free stuff some people get, its becoming really hard to sympathise.

There was a scrappahe scheme available to those on benefits to help them. Alot of people who fall just outside of that and are struggling got zero help and have to find the money themselves.

That’s true. After mortgage cost of a car is my biggest monthly expense. More than food or bills. It’d be the first thing to go if I was properly skint.

There is a £2000 scrappage scheme specifically for low income households. You can buy a compliant secondhand petrol fiesta for that.

No so low they can't find money to tax, insure, park, maintain, MOT and run a car, though?

It needs to be banned. A massive vote winner for the Tories. All it is is a tax on poor people.

As it was enforced upon TfL/the Mayor by the Tories in the first places, that makes sense.

And every person who isn't a Tory already having a go about this without making clear that it was a Tory decision forced under the guise of it being a TfL/Mayoral decision is simply doing the Tories' work for them.

I dont think there should be concessions. The scrappage scheme seems to be quite fair and is intended to help those on UC etc.

The main issue with this expansion, is that many if the regions, although technically, Greater London, aren't UN London, and don't benefit from London transport systems. Those on the edge are not necessarily going into London, but for example, living in Kingston and going to school and work in Surrey, but then having to pay to go in and out of your own home.

Todayinahurry, if 70% of low income families don't own a car, how is it a tax on poor people

When they get to A&E they will have to pay a fortune to park there, if they can find a space. It is much cheaper to get a taxi to hospital in London.

A lot of the affected people are more likely to be small businesses that use 'work vans', these are often likely to be diesel and older, could be as recent as 2015 though, these can't really be replaced by a small petrol Fiesta

Do pensioners in London not get concession passes for public transport? Do they not have access to local places for medical appointments? Do the hospital not have patient transport? This is a genuine question. The children getting to A&E scenario is ridiculous.

Tbh I'm sick of the idea that any sort of concession should only be for those who 'really need it'. There are many people affected by things that could do with help. It should be based on living in the areas

If you live in the congestion charge zone for eg you qualify for a 90% discount. It's not just for those on benefits.

We still have a great bus system that most places outside London would kill for, overground trains that are brilliant (including for when I worked in Surrey, and within the Oyster network for travelcards, zip cards etc, good schools within walking distance.

Lack of Tube does not equate to lack of public transport.

I had to ditch my car and get a new one ahead of the ULEZ coming in. It was annoying and I recognise that I was very fortunate to be able to afford to do that. But equally the obit things I really 'need' the car for are things that are expensive luxuries and lifestyle choices.

The implementation of the expansion has been pretty tin eared and botched and an absolute gift to the second hand vehicle market. There are big issues for those who work unsociable hours at places like Heathrow. But the idea that the outer boroughs like Kingston don't have good public transport is a bit silly.

OK this is what I would have done if I were Khan :

Keep the rules as they are BUT give an exemption to any car petrol or diesel under 1.6L, irrespective of their euro catagory. Also apply a charge to any car over 2.5L petrol or diesel irresepective of their euro category.

This would ensure there was an option for poor people to keep on the road cheaply with smaller engine cars, while ensuring fat cats in large environmentally damaging SUVs and large cars that are completely unnecessary are taxed off the road, along with the most polluting diesels and petrols in the middle band that don't meet the euro cat requirements.

Even in London public transport is not always great. For example it is impossible to get to change at stations if you are not able to go up and down steps.

I do t see why others should pay more - just like with free school meals those who don’t get them don’t pay more to cover the costs for the free ones?

What do you think tax is?!

I do t see why others should pay more - just like with free school meals those who don’t get them don’t pay more to cover the costs for the free ones?

Free school meals aren't paid for out of school meals income. Those who are entitled to FSM also pay tax, whether income based/directly due to employment or indirectly through VAT and Excise Duty.

The money comes through the Central Schools Grant, either through the Local Authority or in the case of an academy, through the GAG. The exceptions to this are the universal infant free school meals, which comes in a separate grant and FSM for children of families with No Recourse to Public Funds, which are added as a separate section on the school census.

I'm utterly screwed by ULEZ. I live just outside the new expansion zone, so don't qualify for the scrappage scheme. Work full time as a healthcare worker inside neighbouring expansion zone, 3 min drive away, and need my car for home visits for work, so will now need to pay £60 a week to ULEZ. My low wages (and extortionate rent & childcare costs) are topped up by UC.

I drive a 2007 diesel. I cannot find a single 7 seater people carrier anywhere for the 2K scrappage money even if I did qualify. I don't oppose the scheme in itself, I just believe more needs to be done to help the families who are disproportionately affected. I don't WANT to drive a non compliant car, but I can't afford anything else out there.

Kingston is in London and has been since 1965. If you don’t like it then there are ample opportunities to vote against it in the next mayoral election. that’s how democracy works.

If your employer is requiring you to drive for work then they should recompense you for any expenses incurred: your mileage, congestion charge, tolls and any ULEZ charges. If they don’t do this, then you can offset expenses incurred against income tax.

A policy brought in by a Tory mayor, which was then required to be expanded by the Tory department for transport.

But sure, vote Tory to get rid of it.

If it was a walking charge I might agree with you. But anyone that can afford to own and run a car should pay the same as anyone else that owns a car.

Bollocks. The working poor in London catch the bus. They don’t have cars and can’t pay petrol money. Get the very early buses and you see all of the office cleaners and supermarket workers. They aren’t driving.