The Mayor of London has been approached by The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) to end plans to expand ULEZ on August 29, 2023.
Sadiq Khan’s expansion will see thousands of ‘non-compliant’ motorists pay a daily charge of £12.50 to travel in and around the capital. This means tradespeople working in and around Greater London will be faced with extra charges that may put them off entering these boroughs.
Thousands of drivers in the industry are expected to be hit with the extra cost, which comes during a cost of living crisis. With food prices, energy bills, and mortgage rates pushing most people to the brink, the ULEZ charge couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Data collected by Fix Radio has revealed that 25% of tradespeople have had to increase their prices in the past twelve months. And 23% have said that ULEZ has made using their vehicle too expensive.
Tensions have been raised even further after Labour’s loss to the Tories in the Uxbridge by-election, with further calls to scrap the ULEZ scheme. With a case against the expansion pending in the High Court, it’s still not clear if the controversial charge will go ahead.
Pay per mile
Following the backlash and overwhelming support against the ULEZ expansion, Khan is now drawing up plans to charge drivers per mile.
The pay-per-mile proposal will target older vehicles that pollute more and make up for a drop in falling revenue expected to hit the existing low emissions zone charges.
When the ban on diesel and petrol cars comes into law in 2030, there will be less income from road tax. The government currently collects £30 billion in road tax and fuel duty each year, but hybrid and electric vehicles (EV) are currently exempt.
However, this is set to change in 2025, when the Vehicle Excise Duty rules will force EV owners to pay tax. With more compliant vehicles on the road, Transport for London will see a drop in income, and charging per mile is one suggestion to make up the shortfall.
Ironically, the government has made it easier for migrants to enter the country to help fill the labour shortages. However, if extra charges to travel around Greater London are imposed, there will be less incentive to join the workforce.
Tradesman Talk
Do you work in and around London? What impact will the ULEZ expansion have on your trade? And do you think ULEZ and the proposed pay-per-mile scheme will reduce emissions and result in cleaner air?
As always, leave your comments below and click the social links to share this story on social.
Until next time, make sure it’s Tradesman Saver.
1 Comment
Like it or not, the ULEZ needs to happen. Stop moaning and adapt. Don’t make tradesmen look like the dinosaurs we are in danger of copying.