Replacing cop cars over Ulez is costing millions, Tories warn
REPLACING hundreds of police cars that fall foul of Sadiq Khan’s Ulez rules will cost taxpayers over £6 million, Tory analysis shows.
Scotland Yard has 221 vehicles currently in use that do not comply with the Labour Mayor’s anti-car scheme.
City Hall Tories calculate that their replacement will cost almost £6.4 million.
And the majority of those vehicles are used for frontline work, according to a recent Freedom of Information request.
Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall slammed the policy as “nothing but a cash grab” hitting families, businesses, charities and emergency services.
“It is outrageous that the Met Police are being forced to pay out millions on new cars when they should be focused on dealing with soaring knife crime and keeping people safe,” she added.
“I will scrap the Ulez expansion on day one of my Mayoralty, no ifs, no buts."
Tory MP Gareth Bacon MP added: “The costs of Sadiq Khan' Ulez cash grab are outrageous. This city deserves so much better."
The Conservatives’ calculations were based on a City Hall document, signed in 2019, that revealed an estimated budget of £97 million to replace 3,358 Met Police vehicles from 2021 to 2025.
Mr Khan’s hated levy sees drivers whose cars do not conform to strict emissions standards pay £12.50 to enter a regulated zone.
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A recent FoI revealed that over 65 per cent of appeals lodged against Ulez fines since the scheme's expansion last summer have been successful.
It showed that 52,924 fines were overturned out of a total of 78,357 appeals from the end of September to late December.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, said: “All Met Police and other non-compliant emergency service vehicles are exempt from the Ulez charge.
“There will be no additional cost to the taxpayer for the replacement of these vehicles. All vehicle replacements are part of the planned schedule to upgrade vehicles.”