Drivers who want to get rid of cars that do not comply with the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) regulations in London now have the option to donate them to Ukraine as of Friday. This program has finally been launched after a lengthy effort to gain the approval of both the mayor and the government.
The original suggestion was made more than a year ago, but it was initially denied by Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, due to legal reasons. After a persistent and sometimes contentious lobbying campaign, the proposal was eventually accepted by the transportation department.
Those who own cars, vans, and minibuses and reside or conduct business in the capital city may be eligible to receive a scrappage payment from Transport for London (TfL). This payment can be up to £2,000 for a car, or can be donated to Ukraine for humanitarian and medical use instead.
Car owners must submit an additional request to British Ukrainian Aid, an organization collaborating with TfL. If accepted, volunteers will collect the car and transport it across Europe to be utilized in relief operations.
Unfortunately, Ukraine lacks an adequate number of vehicles, especially near the front lines where regular cars and vans are utilized for transporting wounded individuals from the battleground to medical centers and eventually hospitals. The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, is endorsing the London program.
This indicates that instead of removing high-emission vehicles from use, they are being sent to a war zone. The individuals responsible for implementing this plan argue that it is a justified reaction to the Russian invasion.
Richard Lofthouse, a former scholar in communications, stated that Ukraine aims for equivalent air quality standards, but when survival is at stake, it is not the primary concern. The significance of these vehicles is their ability to protect lives in the short term.
Lofthouse was inspired to propose this idea after purchasing a non-Ulez compliant Ford Ranger and taking it to Ukraine. He sought the help of Klitschko’s office, who then approached Khan to discuss adding a donation option to the scrappage program for vehicles that do not meet Ulez requirements.
Khan, with the guidance of his legal team, sent a letter to Klitschko in December stating that he did not have the authority to alter the plan. He explained that sending vehicles to Ukraine did not meet the necessary legal requirements to show the benefits to Londoners, and therefore the plan could not move forward.
Lofthouse acquired the letter and disclosed it to the Daily Telegraph, leading columnist Charles Moore to speculate whether Khan faced pressure from Russian interests or feared backlash from Islamist political activists. However, Moore ultimately deemed both scenarios unlikely.
Sources within City Hall raised concerns about the negative tone of the criticism, stating that Khan has actually been supportive. However, internal lawyers have raised important objections. In late December, the mayor teamed up with former Defense Secretary Ben Wallace to urge the government to revise the law.
One month later, the transport secretary, Mark Harper, announced that there were no legal obstacles preventing the implementation of the scheme. As a result, the Ukraine vehicle donation program was created in just two months.
“I have made swift efforts to revise our scrappage program,” stated Khan. He also mentioned that 50 retired ambulances will be delivered to Ukraine. Officials at the mayor’s office suggest expanding the option to other cities, such as Birmingham and Bristol, that have their own scrappage schemes.
Source: theguardian.com
