Here in Waltham Forest we have supported the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) since it was first announced and we have consistently called for and supported its extension into the Greater London Ultra Low Emission Zone (GLULEZ). However, since the announcement of the GLULEZ, we have lobbied Sadiq Khan, TfL and indeed Government to increase and improve further the value and criteria of the initial Scrappage Scheme, so that more residents, families businesses and other organisations in Waltham Forest can be helped to make the right decisions, for all our benefit.

We know that our residents suffer from terrible air pollution and that the GLULEZ is essential to the improved health of our residents. We believe that our residents should be able to breathe clean air and live happier, healthier and longer lives. The GLULEZ will help reduce the cases, demands and costs of respiratory diseases and conditions, caused by poor air quality created by motorised vehicle transport, on our local NHS and other public services.

In March of this year, Waltham Forest signed a letter to the Chancellor asking for Government to contribute to the Scrappage Scheme, as they have done in Birmingham, Bradford and Bristol, to ensure that even more residents can receive money to scrap their polluting vehicles. The letter also requested that the government reduces the VAT charged on public Electric Vehicle Charging Points from 20% to 5% – making it even cheaper for residents to switch to an electric vehicle. The third ask was for the Chancellor to increase the budget for Active Travel. All of these asks were ignored and it was clear that the government had no intention of supporting active travel, electric vehicle users or those who wish to scrap their vehicle in favour of a less polluting one.

However, we know that we could not let this poor anti-London response from the Tory Government be the last of it. So earlier this week, we wrote to Sadiq Khan our Labour Mayor of London outlining our suggestions to improve the criteria of the existing Scrappage Scheme, asking him to again intervene on behalf of Londoners where the Tory Government was failing to do so. We asked for the Scrappage Scheme eligibility to be widened to support even more small businesses to participate, to review the grace period for drivers who are unable to retrofit their vehicles by the deadline, and to help parents and carers (many of whom work in critical jobs) to access more support.

We were delighted when on Thursday we heard the announcement that in light of our, and many similar letters from across the city, Sadiq has responded and acted. He announced that the ULEZ Scrappage Scheme would be expanded to support residents in the following ways:

• All Londoners receiving child benefit would now be eligible to apply.
• All small businesses with fewer than 50 employees could apply. This was previously only for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees.
• Charities can now scrap or retrofit up to three vans or minibuses. This is an increase from one.
• Organisations who have booked a retrofit for light vans or minibuses will have a three month grace period.
• Organisations who have ordered compliant vehicles now have a six month grace period for delivery of their new vehicles.

We know just how vital these changes to the Scrappage Scheme are and we are really pleased that our suggestions to our Sadiq have been listened to and been successful. We will never stop standing up for our residents and putting forward constructive and appropriate ‘asks’ when we feel they need more help. We hope every resident in Waltham Forest who is now eligible takes full advantage of this offer to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in London.