A major Ulez update backed by Sadiq Khan will be rolled out today and will see non-compliant cars from London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone given to Ukraine.
The changes to the Ulez scrappage scheme have been rolled out today, March 15, as London Mayor Sadiq Khan aims to bolster relations with Ukraine and continue the removal of petrol and diesel cars from the capital’s roads.
When looking to scrap their non-compliant vehicles, drivers will be given the option to donate their vehicle to Ukraine in return for the same grant payment as those who scrap their vehicles.
A change in protocol between the UK and Ukraine has been announced, having been confirmed earlier this week by Conservative MP Chris Grayling and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Omelyan.
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Drivers will be able to choose to donate their non-compliant vehicles to Ukraine
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It states: “The carriage of goods by Euro-5 and above category vehicles registered in the territory of country of one of the Contracting Parties, in the territories of the countries of the other Contracting Parties”.
Once an application to the scrappage scheme has been accepted, interested applicants will be directed to British Ukrainian Aid to check if their vehicle is wanted by the charity.
According to the London Mayor, most vehicles eligible for the scrappage scheme are needed in Ukraine, with Khan praising his close working relationship with his Kyiv-based counterpart Vitali Klitschko.
Christina Calderato, Director of Transport Strategy and Policy at Transport for London, said the organisation was very pleased that the new measures would be introduced today.
She added: “We know that Londoners want to help those affected by the war, and by working with UK registered charity British-Ukrainian Aid (BUA) to expand the scheme in this way, we can support vital access to humanitarian and medical aid.
“The £210million scrappage scheme, the largest of its kind, remains open to all Londoners and is helping drivers transition to more sustainable modes of transport, resulting in a cleaner, greener, capital.”
The BUA has already worked directly with organisations in Ukraine and delivered over 300 medical and evacuation vehicles in 2023 alone.
Vehicles will be permanently removed from the UK following their donation to Ukraine, with BUA providing evidence of this to TfL.
Around 95 per cent of vehicles driving inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone on an average day are already compliant and do not need to pay the additional charge.
Sadiq Khan lamented the “devastating consequences” of the Russian invasion and the impact it had on Ukraine and its infrastructure.
There has been some criticism of the London Mayor over the scheme, given that he initially rejected proposals to send vehicles to Ukraine, citing issues within the legislation.
The Labour Mayor asked TfL to make changes in February after Transport Secretary Mark Harper said there was “no legal barrier” in sending cars to the Eastern European nation.
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Ukrainian frontline medics Iryna Knyzhnyk and Brandon Mitchell in a war-damaged ambulance
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The issue was first raised in December when Khan asked Harper to allow 4x4s and other suitable vehicles to be moved to Ukraine rather than being scrapped.