With six months to go, small businesses remain concerned about the extension of London’s The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
The ULEZ extension will come into force on Monday 25 October 2021 and FSB London says many small businesses are concerned about the impact it will have on the cost of doing business in the capital.
Results of a recent survey undertaken by FSB London highlighted that more support is needed to help London’s small businesses achieve net-zero with the data revealing that 79% of small businesses consider the adoption of a green policy as important.
With one in five small businesses not aware of the changes to the ULEZ coming in October 2021, it clearly indicates that much more still needs to be done to ensure every small business owner entering the Congestion Charge/ULEZ zone is aware and is supported in upgrading their vehicles.
Also, London’s small businesses have been severely impacted by the pandemic and more time and money is needed for them to prepare for the ULEZ extension.
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Michael Lloyd, London Infrastructure Policy Lead for FSB, said: “Now is the time with six months to go that the Diesel Scrappage Scheme for Vans and HGVs should be reintroduced, and a delay to the full implementation of the ULEZ rescheduled to at least May 2022 to help businesses most affected by the pandemic.
“Small businesses want to do the right thing by the environment and help improve the air quality but in these current times simply cannot afford to replace their business vehicles.
“Many small business owners have vehicles aged around five years old or less having to sell at a significant loss.
“We hear of others who have sold their work vans but have then not been able to source a ‘like for like’ replacement.
“The cost of doing business in the capital is high and FSB London asks the ULEZ expansion is delayed or a ‘period of grace’ be provided to enable small businesses more time to get prepared.”
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