London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s grant scheme for scrapping polluting vehicles is criticized for leaving low-income households out of pocket due to lengthy processing delays and administrative errors. The project, aimed at encouraging the transition to cleaner vehicles, has many applicants facing the £12.50-a-day Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez) charge. At the same time, they wait for their grant payments to be processed.
Numerous applicants have reported multiple rejections for invalid reasons, often resulting in weeks of waiting for the grant. Susan, whose full name has been withheld to protect her identity, waited eight weeks for a decision that should have taken 10 working days. She faced multiple rejections and requests for duplicate documentation, leaving her without the grant and unable to afford the Ulez charge.
Sole traders with non-Ulez-compliant vans also feel the strain, with the daily charge causing financial hardship and threatening their livelihoods. One trader, who has been waiting six weeks for his claim to be approved, expressed concern that he may be forced out of business.
Erroneous rejections and unclear guidance from Transport for London (TfL) have further complicated the process. Some applicants have been told their claims were ineligible due to their vehicles being registered as off-road (SORN), while others have been required to renew their insurance and MOT despite the delays.
Motorcyclists face difficulties, as the system does not recognize their scrappage documentation. Mike Wainer, who successfully applied for a grant to replace his motorbike, was initially told that a certificate of destruction was required, which does not apply to motorcycles under DVLA rules. After intervention from The Guardian, TfL agreed to accept the notification of destruction.
Those whose applications are approved face further delays, often waiting up to six weeks for the grant cheque after scrapping their vehicles. This leaves them unable to replace their cars and facing ongoing financial hardship.
TfL has acknowledged the delays and apologized to affected customers. They have pledged to review the application process and consider ways to streamline it. However, for many applicants, the delays and errors have caused significant financial strain and frustration.
