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London road user charging schemes suspended to help critical workers
On 23rd March Transport for London (TfL) announced that all road user charging schemes in the capital will be temporarily suspended, until further notice.
Words by: Auto Trader
Additional words by: Auto Trader
Last updated on 30 March 2020 | 0 min read
The suspension now applies to the London congestion charge, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Low Emission Zone (LEZ). This will help any businesses’ who still need to operate vans in the capital, who will see immediate savings.
Previously every van which entered into the Congestion Charge zone between 7 am and 6 pm would be required to pay £11.50 every day. If your van needed to go into the ULEZ zone and didn’t meet the standards, you would also be required to pay another £12.50 per day. This means that businesses with non-Euro 6 compliant vans, who are required to drive in both zones would be paying up to £24 per van, per day. As these are temporarily suspended, the cost is now £0 per day until further notice. These changes came after The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, asked TfL to suspend charges to ensure critical workers, particularly those in the NHS, are able to travel around London more easily during this national emergency. These changes will also support supply chains, and help keep supermarkets fully stocked. The suspension of the London congestion charge, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Low Emission Zone (LEZ) is welcome news for our sector as it reflects the vital part the transport industry is playing in the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic - keeping the country stocked with the vital supplies we all need in such extraordinary circumstances. There are currently more than seven million people employed in the making, selling and moving of goods, who are all vital in keeping the UK trading. Commenting on the announcement, Natalie Chapman, Head of Urban Policy at FTA has said: “With unprecedented levels of demand for food, medicines and other commodities, this move will keep the supply chain stable and robust and ensure that London can remain open for business, supporting its residents, its companies and its industry.” On the changes, Paul Cowperthwaite, TfL's General Manager of Road User Charging, said: "What we are seeing through this crisis is that London's critical workforce is wider than just the core emergency services. Emergency services workers are absolutely fundamental to our response, but supermarket workers, utilities engineers, refuse collectors, and many more, also need to be able to travel to keep the city functioning. This is why we have temporarily suspended road user charging in the capital." In order to keep London’s public transport network running TfL has reduced the number of tube stations open and are ensuring they are appropriately staffed. Advice from the government and TfL is currently ‘do not travel unless essential’. You can see updates on public transport from TfL here. For up to date information about TfL’s response to coronavirus please visit the TfL website here. For medical advice please make sure you visit the NHS website. For advice relating to the UK’s response in any other areas, please visit the UK Government’s website. To keep up to date with all our latest content, or ask us a question, visit our social channels – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Youtube.
Previously every van which entered into the Congestion Charge zone between 7 am and 6 pm would be required to pay £11.50 every day. If your van needed to go into the ULEZ zone and didn’t meet the standards, you would also be required to pay another £12.50 per day. This means that businesses with non-Euro 6 compliant vans, who are required to drive in both zones would be paying up to £24 per van, per day. As these are temporarily suspended, the cost is now £0 per day until further notice. These changes came after The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, asked TfL to suspend charges to ensure critical workers, particularly those in the NHS, are able to travel around London more easily during this national emergency. These changes will also support supply chains, and help keep supermarkets fully stocked. The suspension of the London congestion charge, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Low Emission Zone (LEZ) is welcome news for our sector as it reflects the vital part the transport industry is playing in the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic - keeping the country stocked with the vital supplies we all need in such extraordinary circumstances. There are currently more than seven million people employed in the making, selling and moving of goods, who are all vital in keeping the UK trading. Commenting on the announcement, Natalie Chapman, Head of Urban Policy at FTA has said: “With unprecedented levels of demand for food, medicines and other commodities, this move will keep the supply chain stable and robust and ensure that London can remain open for business, supporting its residents, its companies and its industry.” On the changes, Paul Cowperthwaite, TfL's General Manager of Road User Charging, said: "What we are seeing through this crisis is that London's critical workforce is wider than just the core emergency services. Emergency services workers are absolutely fundamental to our response, but supermarket workers, utilities engineers, refuse collectors, and many more, also need to be able to travel to keep the city functioning. This is why we have temporarily suspended road user charging in the capital." In order to keep London’s public transport network running TfL has reduced the number of tube stations open and are ensuring they are appropriately staffed. Advice from the government and TfL is currently ‘do not travel unless essential’. You can see updates on public transport from TfL here. For up to date information about TfL’s response to coronavirus please visit the TfL website here. For medical advice please make sure you visit the NHS website. For advice relating to the UK’s response in any other areas, please visit the UK Government’s website. To keep up to date with all our latest content, or ask us a question, visit our social channels – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Youtube.