ULEZ plan is “troubling news” for small businesses

The Freight Transport Association has stated that plans for an Ultra Low Emission Zone will impose unnecessary costs on small businesses in London.

Plans for an ULEZ outlined by the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is believed to “severely disadvantage small businesses working in the capital’s centre”, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has said.

The zone is set to be implemented in 2019.

Natalie Chapman, FTA’s head of Policy for London and the South East, commented: “The impact will be especially hard for van users, as by 2019 there will only be two and a half years’ worth of compliant vehicles in the fleet – and no second-hand compliant vehicles available for purchase at all.”

“We are calling for businesses based in the affected area to have access to a sunset clause, such as has been offered to private residents, allowing them greater time to comply with the change required without the need for unnecessary and potentially crippling additional charges for new vehicles”

She added: “At a time when London’s businesses face an increasingly challenging trading environment, the Mayor should be taking every possible step to help the capital’s small businesses, and we will urge through this consultation for more consideration to be given to those affected by the introduction of these new measures.”